Florida State DB Rawls Named to Bednarik Award Watch List

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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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