Ohio State adds Jay Timmons to elite defensive back haul this cycle

With National Signing Day less than a month away, Ohio State has pulled off a monumental flip, adding to its top-10 recruiting class.

On Thursday, Pittsburgh Pine-Richland cornerback Jay Timmons, the No. 29 overall prospect and No. 2 CB in the 2026 Rivals300, flipped from Florida State to the Buckeyes. Despite being an FSU legacy, Timmons is now set to head to Columbus after visiting the Big Ten program.

“Their defense is what excites me and the energy they bring it’s something different,” Timmons told Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong.

The addition of Timmons bumps Ohio State up one spot to No. 8 in the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. He also adds some finishing touches on an impressive defensive back haul for head coach Ryan Day, secondary coach Tim Walton and Co.

Looking at Ohio State’s big DB class

Perhaps the Buckeyes’ biggest win came in March as they swiped a pledge from Baton Rouge (La.) Catholic four-star safety Blaine Bradford. He’s now the No. 50 overall prospect and No. 5 safety in the cycle — according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies — and remains locked in despite LSU trying to keep him home.

“Ohio State has not made any mistakes,” Bradford’s father told Rivals’ Sam Spiegelman in August. “Blaine is a 17-year-old kid with the pressure of Death Valley hovering over him. Blaine will have the final say so as we navigate this space. As of today he is a Buckeye.”

One month later in April, Jacksonville Bolles School four-star safety Simeon Caldwell committed. He’s now the No. 12 safety in the cycle. One month after Caldwell, Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic four-star cornerback Jordan Thomas joined the fold. The No. 2 recruit in New Jersey is nearly a top-100 pledge and the No. 14 CB in the cycle.

Last month, Ohio State added Baltimore St. Frances Academy three-star safety Khmari Bing, a former Maryland pledge. He acquired some serious interest this fall and chose the Buckeyes over Alabama and Indiana.

Scout’s Take on Timmons

Timmons now joins the fold as an outlier in the Rivals300. He’s continued to draw serious praise from Rivals’ Scouting and Rankings team this fall. National Scout Cody Bellaire said this of the four-star in September:

“He can play in the box, he can man cover, and he can play in zone. He truly excels in all of these areas and has such a strong blend of physicality and finesse. He can be fluid in coverage and stay sticky when the ball is in the air. He has the violence at the point of attack and the tenacity to bring down ball carriers. But most importantly, he has fantastic instincts and that allows him to see things happen before anyone else on the field. Timmons has a case for one of the most college-ready skillsets of any back half defender in this class.”