Kentucky football is staying aggressive in the transfer portal, and one name to keep an eye on is Florida State cornerback Ja’Brill Rawls. The former three-star recruit out of Pensacola is on the move after three seasons in Tallahassee, and the Wildcats are expected to be a serious contender for his services.
Rawls brings with him two years of eligibility and a resume that quietly turned heads in 2025. He appeared in seven games for the Seminoles this past season, racking up 40 total tackles, two tackles for loss, an interception, and a forced fumble. Those numbers might not jump off the page at first glance, but they tell the story of a defensive back who made the most of his opportunities-especially on a Florida State team that struggled to a 5-7 finish.
Before a late-season injury cut his year short, Rawls was one of the more consistent playmakers in FSU’s secondary. He showed a knack for finding the football and wasn’t afraid to get physical in run support-traits that translate well to the SEC, where defensive backs are asked to do a little bit of everything.
Coming out of high school, Rawls was seen as a versatile athlete with the frame and instincts to develop into a reliable contributor. At Florida State, he did just that-growing into a well-rounded defender with experience in a Power Four program. That combination of physical tools, production, and high-level reps makes him a particularly intriguing target for teams like Kentucky, who are looking to add immediate help on the back end.
For the Wildcats, Rawls would fit right into a defensive strategy that’s increasingly leaning on speed, versatility, and experience. With two years left to play, he’s not just a short-term fix-he’s a piece that could anchor the secondary through the next phase of the program’s evolution.
As the portal carousel continues to spin, Kentucky is expected to stay firmly in the mix. Rawls hasn’t made a final decision yet, but if the Wildcats can land him, it would be another smart addition to a defense that’s looking to reload, not rebuild.