Rhett Dawson starred at Valdosta (Ga.) High School and was heavily recruited by most of the top programs in the south after earning all-state honors as both a junior and senior. 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 freshman and sophomore seasons at FSU that cost him early playing time. He came on strong as a junior in 1970 leading the Seminoles with 54 catches for 946 yards and
five touchdowns. He averaged 17.5 yards per catch and had a season-long 46-yard reception.
He followed his outstanding junior season by being named Third-Team All-American by the Associated Press as a senior with 62 receptions for 817 yards and seven touchdowns. The touchdown totals do not
include one of Dawson's most memorable games. In the inaugural Fiesta Bowl against Arizona State in 1971, he scored three touchdowns and a two-point conversion setting a bowl scoring record that stood
for 32 years. His name is still prominent in FSU's record book 35 years later as he ranks 12th in all-time season receiving yardage, 10th in career receptions, 9th in total receptions for a season,
10th in catches per game, and 5th in career cathces per game as the 2006 season kicked off.
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.
