Florida State football didn’t have many guys on defense who stood out from the pack this year. However, one guy embodied everything you wanted in a player. He played with great physicality, great instincts, and a desire to win.
That player was defensive back Ja’Bril Rawls. The redshirt sophomore defensive back announced intentions to enter the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining. A player whom FSU was the first to offer. A player who was a three-star out of high school without a ton of offers from some other major schools.
Rawls redshirted after appearing in three games during the 2023 season. He played in the final 11 games as a redshirt freshman in 2024 before solidifying himself as a starter in 2025.
Rawls is arguably the best defensive player on the team. He’s one of the few examples Mike Norvell can point to as a high school player getting developed at a high level.
He is the third FSU defensive back to enter the transfer portal after learning Patrick Surtain Sr. wasn’t going to return for the 2026 season.
BREAKING: Florida State DB Ja’Bril Rawls plans to enter the @TransferPortal, he tells @On3Sports⁰⁰The 6’1 185 DB totaled 58 tackles, 3 PD, & 1 INT in his time with the Seminoles
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 16, 2025
He’ll have 2 years of eligibility left⁰⁰https://t.co/RlUbB6EMhS pic.twitter.com/yBxDYMsABE
I wrote about Rawls when he committed and how his low ranking didn't scare me. He earned his scholarship offer by coming to FSU to compete at their camps, and that's something I noted.
That same attitude was present during the games as he developed as a player. This loss is big for two reasons. He would have been FSU's best returning defensive player, but also it signals one of the first times of FSU not being able to keep a guy that wanted to keep.