On Tuesday, On3’s Hayes Fawcett reported that Florida State defensive back Ja’Bril Rawls would enter the transfer portal when it opened in January. Noles247 first reported that Rawls had been leaning in that direction. Rawls is the second defensive back this week to announce his departure from the program, alongside DB Cai Bates.
On a defense that lacked consistency and playmaking, Rawls exhibited both qualities, becoming one of Florida State’s best defensive players during the 2025 season. When healthy, the defensive back started opposite Jerry Wilson and played with tremendous physicality on an otherwise toothless unit. However, he was bitten by the injury bug and missed five games this past year, including the final two games of the campaign. Even with the missed time, Rawls finished 10th on FSU’s defense in snaps.
Rawls spent three seasons in Tallahassee and became a recruiting success story for Mike Norvell and his staff. 247Sports ranked Rawls as a three-star prospect and the 92nd-best player in the state of Florida. After redshirting his freshman year, the Pensacola native played in 11 games in 2024 before locking down one of the two open cornerback slots heading into 2025.
With Wilson out of eligibility, Rawls leaving the program, and Mike Norvell letting go of defensive backs coach Patrick Surtain Sr., the defensive backs room will receive a significant makeover heading into 2026.
Rawls’ FSU bio:
2025:
Played in the win over No. 8 Alabama, recording six tackles and one pass break up…added two solo tackles in the win against Kent State…recorded 11 tackles including 1.0 tackles for loss and one interception in the game against Virginia…added six tackles in the game against Miami…Registered 10 solo tackles including 1.0 tackles for loss in the game against Pitt…added two tackles in the win over Wake Forest…recorded three tackles and one pass-breakup in the game against Clemson…
2024:
Played in Florida State’s final 11 games, finishing with 14 tackles…team-high and career-best seven tackles in victory over Charleston Southern, including six solo stops…three tackles at SMU…two tackles against both North Carolina and Notre Dame.
2023:
Appeared in three games…recorded four tackles and one pass breakup…made one solo tackle and one pass breakup in 66-13 win vs. Southern Miss…registered two tackles in 58-13 win vs. North Alabama…had one solo stop in Orange Bowl vs. No. 6 Georgia…redshirted 2023 season.
BEFORE FSU:
Made impact on offense, defense and special teams in three seasons at Pensacola Catholic…ranked as No. 45 safety in the country and Florida’s No. 75 overall prospect by On3…rated nation’s No. 48 cornerback prospect and No. 89 overall in Florida by 247Sports…recorded 1,555 all-purpose yards, 98 tackles, 3.0 for loss, six interceptions, seven pass breakups, one forced fumble, three punt return touchdowns and two kickoff return touchdowns…helped lead Crusaders to 10 wins and regional semifinal round of 2S state playoffs his senior year…played in all 12 games and registered 43 tackles, four interceptions and one forced fumble along with 25 catches for 456 yards and seven touchdowns while scoring two kickoff return touchdowns and one punt return touchdown…played eight games during junior campaign and recorded 36 tackles, 1.0 for loss, two interceptions, two pass breakups, 12 catches for 146 receiving yards and two touchdowns while averaging 25.2 yards per punt return with two touchdowns…made 16 tackles, caught seven passes for 88 yards and averaged 42.0 yards on three kickoff returns as Catholic advanced to 3A regional semifinal his sophomore season.
