Florida State saw some improvement defensively under first-year defensive coordinator Tony White a season ago. One player who contributed in a big way was cornerback Ja'Bril Rawls.
He missed five games, but his production was still excellent. Rawls ended with 40 tackles, two tackles for loss, one interception, two pass breakups, and one fumble recovery. According to Adam Rittenberg of ESPN, he's one of college football’s biggest sleepers in 2026.
Rawls is only a sleeper in the sense that he missed about half of last season because of injury, but he produced nicely in his seven starts. He was the team's only defender to record multiple games with 10 or more tackles, and he showcased his playmaking ability against Virginia, Wake Forest and others.
Rawls projects as one of the leaders of the Seminoles' secondary alongside Duke transfer Ma'Khi Jones, and his skills allow defensive coordinator Tony White to use him in multiple ways.
Rawls has been getting quite a bit of recognition this offseason. He has two years of eligibility remaining, but former Dallas Cowboys scout and current executive director of the Senior Bowl Drew Fabianich mentioned in July that he feels Rawls is a first-round prospect. Also, he landed on the Bednarik Award Watch List last week, which is given to the most outstanding defensive player for the season.
Barring any injuries, Rawls is expected to have another impactful season as the Seminoles' defense looks to take the next step under the aforementioned White's leadership.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Florida State CB named sleeper for 2026 season
