Rhett Dawson
Rhett Dawson
Full Name:  Rhett Motte Dawson
   School:  Valdosta High School in Valdosta, Georgia

Seminole Relations:  Brother of Bill "Red" Dawson

Legacy Bricks:  Legacy Walk Map Link
   2006 Football HOF - Loc 74


Click On Photo To Enlarge


FSU Career
Football
Year  No  Pos     Hgt  Wgt  Cl  Ltr  Hometown
1968  82  FL      6-1  184  So       Valdosta, GA                
1969  82  SE      6-1  187  So-R *   Valdosta, GA                
1970  82  WR      6-1  185  Jr-R *   Valdosta, GA                
1971  82  WR      6-2  185  Sr-R *   Valdosta, GA                


Conference Awards
Football
Year  Award
1970  All-South Independent - 1st Team
1971  All-South Independent - 1st Team


All-American Awards
Football
Year  Award
1971  Associated Press - 3rd Team All-American


Member of the FSU Hall of Fame
Elected into the FSU Hall of Fame in 2006
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.



FSU Statistics
Football
Season Statistics
Defense
         |       Tackles        |   Sacks  |    Fumble    |     Pass Defense    | Blkd |   PAT Attempts  |        |         |    |
Year  GP |  ua   a Tot  tfl-yds |   no-yds | ff fr-yds-td | int-yds-td qbh brup | kick |   kick  rsh rcv |   fg   | saf dxp | td | pts
---------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
1963   1 |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0   0   0  |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
1968     |   0   0   0  0.0-    |  0.0-    |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0   0   0  |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
1969   5 |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0   0   0  |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
1970  11 |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0   0   0  |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  5 |  30
1971  11 |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0   0   0  |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  7 |  46
---------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
Tot   28 |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0   0   0  |  0- 0  |   0   0 | 12 |  76
Offense/Kick and Punt Returns
         |       Rushing        |      Receiving       |         Passing          |     Kick Returns      |     Punt Returns      |  all
Year  GP |  no  yds  avg td lg  |  no  yds  avg td lg  | cmp- att-int  yds td lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  | purp
---------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
1963   1 |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0-  0 - 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |    0
1968     |        0  0.0        |           0.0        |    -    -                |           0.0         |           0.0         |     
1969   5 |   0    0  0.0  0     |  12  152 12.7  0 38  |   0-  0 - 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |  152
1970  11 |   1    5  5.0  0  5  |  54  946 17.5  5 46  |   0-  0 - 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |  951
1971  11 |   0    0  0.0  0     |  62  817 13.2  7 32t |   0-  0 - 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |  817
---------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
Tot   28 |   1    5  5.0  0  5  | 128 1915 15.0 12 46  |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      | 1920
Football
Game Participation
                            |      Starts
1963                        | GP  Off  Def
----------------------------|--------------
Nov  9 Georgia Tech         |  1  RE   RE  
----------------------------|--------------
Tot                         |  1   1    1

                            |      Starts
1969                        | GP  Off  Def
----------------------------|--------------
Sep 20 Wichita State        |  1  SE       
Sep 26 Miami                |  1           
Oct  4 Florida              |  1           
Oct 18 Tulsa                |  1  SE       
Oct 25 Mississippi State    |  1           
----------------------------|--------------
Tot                         |  5   2    0

                            |      Starts
1970                        | GP  Off  Def
----------------------------|--------------
Sep 12 Louisville           |  1  WR       
Sep 19 Georgia Tech         |  1  WR       
Sep 26 Wake Forest          |  1  WR       
Oct 10 Florida              |  1  WR       
Oct 17 Memphis State        |  1  WR       
Oct 24 South Carolina       |  1  WR       
Oct 30 Miami                |  1  WR       
Nov  7 Clemson              |  1  WR       
Nov 14 Virginia Tech        |  1  WR       
Nov 21 Kansas State         |  1  WR       
Nov 26 Houston              |  1  WR       
----------------------------|--------------
Tot                         | 11  11    0

                            |      Starts
1971                        | GP  Off  Def
----------------------------|--------------
Sep 11 Southern Mississippi |  1  WR       
Sep 18 Miami                |  1  WR       
Sep 25 Kansas               |  1  SE       
Oct  2 Virginia Tech        |  1  WR       
Oct  9 Mississippi State    |  1  WR       
Oct 16 Florida              |  1  WR       
Oct 23 South Carolina       |  1  WR       
Oct 30 Houston              |  1  SE       
Nov 13 Georgia Tech         |  1  WR       
Nov 20 Tulsa                |  1  WR       
Nov 27 Pittsburgh           |  1  WR       
Dec 27 Arizona State        |  1  SE       
----------------------------|--------------
Tot                         | 12  12    0

----------------------------|--------------
Career Tot                  | 29  26    1
Football
Game Statistics
                            |       Tackles        |   Sacks  |    Fumble    |     Pass Defense    | Blkd |   PAT Attempts  |        |         |    |
1969                        |  ua   a Tot  tfl-yds |   no-yds | ff fr-yds-td | int-yds-td qbh brup | kick |   kick  rsh rcv |   fg   | saf dxp | td | pts
----------------------------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
Sep 26 Miami                |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Oct  4 Florida              |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Oct 18 Tulsa                |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
----------------------------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
Tot                         |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |  0    0 |  0 |   0

                            |       Tackles        |   Sacks  |    Fumble    |     Pass Defense    | Blkd |   PAT Attempts  |        |         |    |
1970                        |  ua   a Tot  tfl-yds |   no-yds | ff fr-yds-td | int-yds-td qbh brup | kick |   kick  rsh rcv |   fg   | saf dxp | td | pts
----------------------------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
Sep 12 Louisville           |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Sep 19 Georgia Tech         |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Sep 26 Wake Forest          |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Oct 10 Florida              |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Oct 17 Memphis State        |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Oct 24 South Carolina       |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  1 |   6
Oct 30 Miami                |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Nov  7 Clemson              |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  1 |   6
Nov 14 Virginia Tech        |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  1 |   6
Nov 21 Kansas State         |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  1 |   6
Nov 26 Houston              |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  1 |   6
----------------------------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
Tot                         |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |  0    0 |  5 |  30

                            |       Tackles        |   Sacks  |    Fumble    |     Pass Defense    | Blkd |   PAT Attempts  |        |         |    |
1971                        |  ua   a Tot  tfl-yds |   no-yds | ff fr-yds-td | int-yds-td qbh brup | kick |   kick  rsh rcv |   fg   | saf dxp | td | pts
----------------------------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
Sep 11 Southern Mississippi |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  1 |   6
Sep 18 Miami                |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  1 |   6
Sep 25 Kansas               |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Oct  2 Virginia Tech        |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  1 |   6
Oct  9 Mississippi State    |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Oct 16 Florida              |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   1 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  1 |   8
Oct 23 South Carolina       |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   1 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  2 |  14
Oct 30 Houston              |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Nov 13 Georgia Tech         |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Nov 20 Tulsa                |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Nov 27 Pittsburgh           |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  1 |   6
Dec 27 *Arizona State       |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   1 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  3 |  20
----------------------------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
Tot                         |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   2 |  0- 0  |  0    0 |  7 |  46

* Bowl Game stats not included
                            |       Rushing        |      Receiving       |         Passing          |     Kick Returns      |     Punt Returns      |  all
1969                        |  no  yds  avg td lg  |  no  yds  avg td lg  | cmp- att-int  yds td lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  | purp
----------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
Sep 26 Miami                |   0    0  0.0  0     |   6   63 10.5  0 17  |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   63
Oct  4 Florida              |   0    0  0.0  0     |   4   35  8.8  0 15  |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   35
Oct 18 Tulsa                |   0    0  0.0  0     |   2   54 27.0  0 36  |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   54
----------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
Tot                         |   0    0  0.0  0     |  12  152 12.7  0 36  |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |  152

                            |       Rushing        |      Receiving       |         Passing          |     Kick Returns      |     Punt Returns      |  all
1970                        |  no  yds  avg td lg  |  no  yds  avg td lg  | cmp- att-int  yds td lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  | purp
----------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
Sep 12 Louisville           |   0    0  0.0  0     |   3   55 18.3  0 29  |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   55
Sep 19 Georgia Tech         |   0    0  0.0  0     |   2   68 34.0  0 39  |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   68
Sep 26 Wake Forest          |   0    0  0.0  0     |   4   61 15.3  0 24  |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   61
Oct 10 Florida              |   0    0  0.0  0     |   4   72 18.0  0 21  |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   72
Oct 17 Memphis State        |   0    0  0.0  0     |   5  105 21.0  0 46  |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |  105
Oct 24 South Carolina       |   0    0  0.0  0     |   5   72 14.4  1 21t |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   72
Oct 30 Miami                |   0    0  0.0  0     |   5   93 18.6  0 43  |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   93
Nov  7 Clemson              |   0    0  0.0  0     |   7  151 21.6  1 45  |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |  151
Nov 14 Virginia Tech        |   0    0  0.0  0     |   8  131 16.4  1 28  |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |  131
Nov 21 Kansas State         |   0    0  0.0  0     |   6   68 11.3  1 20  |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   68
Nov 26 Houston              |   1    5  5.0  0  5  |   5   70 14.0  1     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   75
----------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
Tot                         |   1    5  5.0  0  5  |  54  946 17.5  5 46  |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |  951

                            |       Rushing        |      Receiving       |         Passing          |     Kick Returns      |     Punt Returns      |  all
1971                        |  no  yds  avg td lg  |  no  yds  avg td lg  | cmp- att-int  yds td lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  | purp
----------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
Sep 11 Southern Mississippi |   0    0  0.0  0     |   7   57  8.1  1 14t |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   57
Sep 18 Miami                |   0    0  0.0  0     |   6   86 14.3  1 25  |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   86
Sep 25 Kansas               |   0    0  0.0  0     |   8   65  8.1  0 24  |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   65
Oct  2 Virginia Tech        |   0    0  0.0  0     |   9  161 17.9  1 25  |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |  161
Oct  9 Mississippi State    |   0    0  0.0  0     |   1    9  9.0  0  9  |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |    9
Oct 16 Florida              |   0    0  0.0  0     |   7   90 12.9  1 20  |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   90
Oct 23 South Carolina       |   0    0  0.0  0     |   9  140 15.6  2 32t |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |  140
Oct 30 Houston              |   0    0  0.0  0     |   1    7  7.0  0  7  |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |    7
Nov 13 Georgia Tech         |   0    0  0.0  0     |   5   73 14.6  0 19  |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   73
Nov 20 Tulsa                |   0    0  0.0  0     |   2   26 13.0  0 13  |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |   26
Nov 27 Pittsburgh           |   0    0  0.0  0     |   7  103 14.7  1 30  |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |  103
Dec 27 *Arizona State       |   0    0  0.0  0     |   8  108 13.5  3     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |  108
----------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
Tot                         |   0    0  0.0  0     |  62  817 13.2  7 32t |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |  817

* Bowl Game stats not included


Pro Career
Football
Height: 6-1   Weight: 185
Drafted: 1972, 10th Round  #240, Houston Oilers, WR    
Debut: September 17, 1972

Year  Abbr   Team                                No      Pos
1972  Hou    Houston Oilers                      20      WR
1973  Min    Minnesota Vikings                   86      WR


Pro Statistics
Football
Offensive Statistics
Year Team  GP  GS    Rec   Yds  Avg Long  TD
--------------------------------------------
1972 Hou   14   2      6    78 13.0  20    1
1973 Min    2   0      2    24 12.0  19    0
--------------------------------------------
2 Years    16   2      8   102 12.8  20    1