WVU Football
Jaire Rawlison Shuts Down the Slot | WVU Football All 105
All 105 is a West Virginia Sports Now series profiling each member of the 2026 WVU Football Roster.
WVU Football needs to rebuild their secondary after two years in a row with one of the worst pass defenses in Division I, and players like redshirt sophomore cornerback Jaire Rawlison bring much-needed fundamentals to the table. A transfer from Kent State, Rawlison started 11 games during his second season in college, amassing 54 tackles.
Perhaps more important, 34 of those tackles were solo stops: Rawlison can bring down ball carriers without help and without letting them carry him for extra yards. As he transitions to Power Four, the 5-foot-9 183 pound Rawlison probably fits best as a slot cornerback rather than in one of the outside spots.
With that said, serving in the de facto No. 3 spot when he does make it on the field — with 11 cornerbacks listed on the roster, he’ll have plenty of competition for playing time — isn’t much of a slight in a pass-happy era of football where depth can become a game-changer.
22 • Jaire Rawlison, redshirt sophomore cornerback
Last Year: Rawlison started 11 of his 12 games played at Kent State as a redshirt freshman.
Stats: 54 tackles (34 solo), six pass breakups and two tackles for loss in 2025.
Post-Camp Outlook: Rawlison will need to compete for playing time in a cornerback room with 10 other players. While he’s the shortest cornerback listed, he’s far from the lightest… and that added heft helped him become a steady tackler at Kent State.
Projected Role: Rawlison should contend for the lead role at slot corner this season. If he doesn’t win it outright, he could get some snaps against pass-heavy formations.
Accolades, Highlights: A two-star recruit out of Pennsylvania powerhouse Bishop McDevitt, Rawlison boosted his standing with 247Sports to that of a three-star transfer after earning a starting role as a redshirt freshman.
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