CBS

The latest NFL mock draft not only projects the futures of some of college football's brightest stars, but also underscores the tight connection between the college game's biggest stages and the NFL pipeline. Of the 32 players selected in this hypothetical first round, 18 could potentially appear in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff -- a testament to how the postseason spotlight helps define elite talent. With the playoff committee wrestling with decisions involving teams like Miami, Alabama, South Carolina and Ole Miss, the final matchups could be a showcase for nearly half the draft's top-tier prospects. At the top of the draft, history may repeat itself as Colorado's Travis Hunter is poised to be the No. 1 overall pick. He would follow in the footsteps of Trevor Lawrence, the last No. 1 overall recruit to claim the NFL Draft's top spot. The Jacksonville Jaguars, projected to hold the first pick yet again, are projected to take Hunter, a dynamic two-way star whose versatility at wide receiver and cornerback makes him the slam-dunk Heisman winner and one of the most unique players in the history of the sport. This mock draft also highlights the rising stock of another Heisman hopeful: Ashton Jeanty, the Boise State running back projected to go in the first round. Jeanty, expected to finish as the Heisman runner-up to Hunter, has been a revelation this season, showcasing a blend of power, speed and vision that has NFL scouts buzzing.