In terms of true freshmen for Ohio State and Ryan Day, it's safe to say that standout wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. has been getting most of the attention of late. That's deserved, but goodness, on the other side of the ball, cornerback Jay Timmons has been electric early on this summer, which has been great to see.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day explains why the stock is rising for Chris Henry Jr.
Timmons has looked so strong, he has even earned plenty of reps with the starting group at nickel. Could he be the eventual starter once Week 1 gets here? That's up in the air, but it's safe to assume that the youngster is in for serious playing time this campaign. That's great news for the Buckeyes, but not so much for Mike Norvell and Florida State.
That's because Timmons was once Tallahassee-bound, committing to Norvell and the Noles in June 2025. However, Day officially put an Ohio State offer on the table last September, with Timmons flipping to the Buckeyes less than two months later. So, there's no doubt that Simmons' early success has to sting for Norvell and his staff, but that's nothing for Day to worry about, as the head coach is loving what he's seeing out of his new defensive back.
Ryan Day was asked what has impressed him about freshman nickel Jay Timmons and he gave a very matter-of-fact answer: "His ability to make plays. He's super competitive. He's edgy. He just has a knack for the game, and he's got really good instincts." pic.twitter.com/gFUnNTKrUq
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) August 15, 2026
Ohio State freshman Jay Timmons has looked downright sensational at fall camp
"His ability to make plays. He's super competitive. He's edgy. He just has a knack for the game, and he's got really good instincts," Day told the media while discussing Timmons.
Again, Henry has looked brilliant as well for the offense, but it's time for people to also jump on the Timmons bandwagon, as the Pennsylvania product is looking better than advertised. This also speaks to the outstanding work the Ohio State staff does in developing players.
Both Henry and Timmons graduated high school early and participated in spring ball. That jumpstart to their college careers has proven to be invaluable, as it has helped put them in a position to be immediate difference-makers for the Buckeyes in 2026. That's always going to be a bit of an expectation for 5-star talents, but Henry and Timmons have tremendous work ethic to match their unreal abilities.
Timmons made the move to Columbus ranked the No. 5 cornerback in the country, but thanks to his versatility, he can line up at multiple different spots for Matt Patricia and the Ohio State defense. We're getting a close look at that this summer. It's something Norvell and Florida State were ready to see in action once ACC play rolls around, but they'll have to watch Ohio State games instead to see what Timmons can do. Sorry Mike, but we're not sorry about that.
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