Sophomore cornerback Ja'Bril Rawls is going to miss the rest of the 2025 season due to injury, Florida State head coach Mike Norvell announced today. The news is a tough blow for a defense that has struggled with consistency throughout the year.

Rawls had been one of FSU's best defensive players all season, alongside safety Earl Little and defensive lineman Darrell Jackson. Rawls was injured against Clemson two weeks ago in South Carolina. He missed last Saturday's game against Virginia Tech ahead of Norvell's announcement on Monday.

"He’s had a really good season up to this point," Norvell said. "A guy that we’re excited about what’s ahead. Just, unfortunately, he’ll be out."

Rawls appeared in seven games in 2025 and was one of FSU's top-performing cornerbacks. Even with three fewer games played than many of his teammates, Rawls is the second leading tackler on the team with 40 stops. He is also credited with two tackles for loss, two passes defensed, one interception, and one fumble recovery.

Shamar Arnoux, a true freshman, has taken on the vacant starting role. Norvell expressed his pride in how well the first-year player has done while being given that responsibility and expectation. Arnoux has appeared in nine games, recording 15 tackles in his time on the field. 

As a team, FSU has largely defended the pass well. The Seminoles are conceding an average of 196.9 passing yards per game.

FSU's final two games are against North Carolina State and Florida, neither of which has had a particularly dangerous passing game this year. The WolfPack have thrown 10 interceptions in as many games, while the Gators are freshly-removed from benching their starting quarterback mid-game.

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