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4-star defensive back Jay Timmons flips commitment from Indiana to Florida State

Browning Headshotby: Zach Browning06/25/25ZachBrowning17
Jay Timmons at Florida State greeted by Head Coach Mike Norvell (Matt LaSerre:Warchant)
Jay Timmons at Florida State greeted by Head Coach Mike Norvell (Matt LaSerre:Warchant)

Indiana football’s promising 2026 recruiting class suffered a major blow Tuesday evening as four-star defensive back Lawrence “Jay” Timmons flipped his commitment from IU to Florida State.

Timmons, a top-350 national recruit from Pine-Richland High School in Pennsylvania, had been one of the headliners of Indiana’s 2026 class since committing in late April following an official visit to Bloomington.

But after taking a weekend visit to Florida State — where both of his parents attended and his father starred as a linebacker — the 5-foot-11 cornerback announced he would be flipping his commitment to the Seminoles.

The move, while disappointing for Indiana, did not come as a shock. As reported by us here at TheHoosier.com a little over a week ago, there were growing signs that Timmons’ commitment to Indiana was on shaky ground.

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Timmons is the son of former Florida State All-American and longtime Pittsburgh Steeler Lawrence Timmons, a Super Bowl champion and first-round NFL draft pick. The younger Timmons cited his deep ties to Tallahassee in his decision.

“I wanted FSU because it’s my dream school, the school I’ve always been a fan of and it’s where I was born …,” Timmons told Warchant after picking up his FSU offer. “Having an offer from Florida State is literally a dream come true.”

Ranked No. 342 nationally and the No. 33 cornerback in the class by the On3 Industry Ranking, Timmons had been Indiana’s highest-rated defensive back pledge and one of the top rated players in Indiana’s 2026 class.

Timmons’ departure leaves a noticeable gap in Indiana’s class of 2026, specifically in the secondary. Following the news, Indiana’s class dropped to No. 32 according to On3.

The Hoosiers still have one cornerback in the 2026 class — Indianapolis native Kasmir Hicks, a high-end three-star prospect — but Timmons’ flip is a reminder of the uphill climb Indiana faces in retaining elite talent against college football’s traditional powers.

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The loss stings for a program that had been building recent momentum on the recruiting trail. Head coach Curt Cignetti and his staff must now turn their attention to shoring up the 2026 class as the summer pushes onward.

Indiana’s 2026 class remains solid, but Tuesday’s flip is a stark reminder of how volatile the recruiting landscape can be — especially when legacy programs come calling.

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