Florida State University Athletics
Florida State Athletics Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2006
Rhett Dawson starred at Valdosta (Ga.) High School and was heavily recruited by most of the top programs but FSU head coach Bill Peterson convinced him to come to Florida State where his older brother, Red, had a Hall of Fame career.
Dawson suffered injuries over his first two seasons but came on strong as a junior in 1970 leading the Seminoles with 54 catches for 946 yards and five touchdowns.
He was named third team All-America as a senior with 62 receptions for 817 yards and seven touchdowns. Those totals do not include the inaugural Fiesta Bowl in 1971 where he scored three touchdowns and a two-point conversion setting a bowl scoring record that stood for 32 years.
Drafted by the Houston Oilers, he played for both Houston (1971-72) and Minnesota (1973) of the NFL before two all-pro seasons with the Saskatchewan Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League.
