Jay Timmons was once a Big Ten commit, intending to head to Bloomington and join Curt Cignetti’s Indiana Hoosiers. He flipped to Florida State, where his father, Lawrence Timmons, played, in late June, but that hasn’t stopped the Big Ten powerhouses from pursuing the Western, Pennsylvania four-star defensive back.
James Franklin took a helicopter from State College to Pine-Richland High School last Friday, presumably to see Penn State commit Khalil Taylor, but also to check in on Timmons. Then, Ryan Day got in on the fun, offering Timmons on Tuesday.
#AGTG blessed to receive an offer from @OhioStateFB !@CoachMHunter @OGWalt_ @PR_RamsFootball @Coach_LeDonne pic.twitter.com/BqNRrqtFdu
— Jay Timmons 4⭐️ (@jay__timmons) September 17, 2025
Most recruits value the programs that were recruiting them early, viewing it as a sign of belief in them as a player, but Ohio State often gets a pass in that department. When the Buckeyes come knocking, early or late in the process, ears typically perk up, and that could be the case with Timmons as Ohio State and Penn State jostle to flip him from Mike Norvell and the Seminoles.
2026 DB Jay Timmons receives offer from Ohio State
Lawrence Timmons, after playing for FSU, spent much of his NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. While his father has ties to Tallahassee, Timmons ultimately could be more comfortable closer to his home, and that could add to both Penn State and Ohio State’s momentum in his recruitment.
Coming off a national championship, Ohio State’s 2026 recruiting class ranks No. 9 in the country, much lower than is typical for the Buckeyes under Day and his predecessor, Urban Meyer. Five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. headlines the class, but should Timmons flip, he would join a group of highly-rated defensive backs.
Day’s class features five-star safety Blaine Bradford, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, four-star safety and top 100 recruit Simeon Caldwell from Jacksonville, Florida, and four-star cornerback Jordan Thomas, a product of Bergen Catholic High School in New Jersey, which produced 2025 Ohio State five-star wide receiver Quincy Porter.
Timmons, the 161st overall recruit in the nation according to 247Sports Composite, is currently the second-highest rated cornerback in FSU’s class, trailing five-star Chauncey Kennon.
Ohio State’s class is strong, but with just 21 recruits, it could use another infusion of talent, and Timmons, though he’d be joining a crowded group of DBs, might fit the bill perfectly.