Every college football season since 2020, a Florida State defender has been named to the prestigious Bednarik Award watch list. This season, that trend continues as defensive back Ja’bril Rawls carries on the legacy of great Seminole defenders receiving recognition for the award, given to the college football defensive player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club.
Rawls, 6-foot-1, 178 pounds, joins these great Florida State defenders who graced the Bednarik watch list:
- 2025: DT Darrell Jackson
- 2024: DE Patrick Payton
- 2023: DE Jared Verse
- 2022: DB Jammie Robinson
- 2021: LB Amari Gainer
- 2020: Hamsah Nasirildeen
Rawls was a top 50 cornerback, and top 100 overall player coming out of high school, where he played on both sides of the ball. In his three years as a prep star, Rawls accounted for 1,555 all-purpose yards, racked up 98 tackles, made six interceptions, and five touchdowns on punt and kickoff returns.
Going into his fourth season in the program under coach Mike Norvell, Rawls will be looked upon to be a leader in the Seminoles secondary. Last season, Rawls recorded 40 tackles, one interception, two tackles for loss and two pass breakups. It was against Virginia that Rawls shined. Rawls terrorized the Cavaliers with 11 tackles, one interception and a tackle for loss.
That sort of play, and more of it, will be needed this season from Rawls and the third level of the Florida State defense. Rawls could also see action in the return game for the Seminoles.
Rawls will lead a pass defense that ranked No. 2 in the ACC, and 28th nationally, and allowed 190 yards per game through the air, and intercepted 12 passes last season. That could work in the Seminoles favor when you consider opponents like Clemson, a team that Florida State has never beaten in the Norvell era, yet finished 7-6 last season, sent nine players to the NFL from last year’s squad, and will start an inexperienced quarterback this season.
In addition to his recognition for the Bednark Award, Rawls has earned the following preseason accolades:
- Second-team All-ACC (by Phil Steele)
- Shriner’s Children East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
- Panini Senior Bowl Top 300
The Bednarik Award was first presented in 1995. Former linebackers Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern) and Paul Posluszny (Penn State) are the only two-time winner of the award. The Maxwell Football Club was founded in 1935, and “recognizes those who elevate the game of football through performance, leadership, character and service," and have done so for the last 90 years.
Rawls will lead Florida State out of the tunnel at Doak Campbell Stadium on Aug. 29 to take on New Mexico State.
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