Curt Cignetti, Indiana Hoosiers get bad news tied to ex-NFL Super Bowl champion’s son

Curt Cignetti’s promising 2026 recruiting class suffered a setback Tuesday night when four-star defensive back Jay Timmons decided to flip his commitment from Indiana to Florida State.

Timmons, whose father Lawrence played linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers, originally committed to the Hoosiers after an official visit in April. But he ultimately decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the Seminoles.

“I’m back home, I was born for this,” Timmons told On3.com National Recruiting Reporter Hayes Fawcett.

Lawrence Timmons made a name for himself at Florida State from 2004 to 2006, earning all-ACC honors along the way. The Steelers selected him in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft, and he went on to play more than a decade in the NFL. 

Now, his son hopes to follow that same path.

It’s already started at Pine-Richland. Timmons helped the Rams win a WPIAL Class 5A title last fall. He did damage on both sides of the ball — finishing with 42 tackles, 10 pass breakups, four interceptions, and three forced fumbles on defense. 

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He also pulled down 40 catches for 755 yards and scored eight touchdowns, according to MaxPreps.

The 5-foot-11 defensive back drew interest from more than 20 schools, with Florida State’s Patrick Surtain Sr. among those leading his recruitment. As ranked by 247Sports, Timmons holds the No. 403 spot nationally, is No. 32 among cornerbacks, and ranks 13th among Pennsylvania prospects.

Timmons was the lone four-star recruit in Cignetti’s 2026 class and the second cornerback to commit to the Hoosiers. 

Although there are still 12 open offers at the position, losing a player of his caliber leaves a notable void for Cignetti and his staff. With the momentum from a strong 2024 campaign, the program remains focused on strengthening the roster as it prepares to compete in the demanding Big Ten landscape.