Lawrence “Jay” Timmons faced a crossroads one year ago; in football, and in life.
After his sophomore year at Pine-Richland High in Gibsonia, Pa., he didn’t receive any college offers until June, when Akron was the lone school to offer him a scholarship.
Timmons was not in a good place, mentally, in spring 2024. He always put immense pressure on himself to thrive on the field, and that pressure became overbearing.
“After that sophomore year, I lost my love for football,” Timmons told The Daily Hoosier in a phone interview. “I didn’t really like the team I was on. I didn’t like my life at the time. I didn’t like what was going on. I was separated from my friends, just everything was going wrong.”
Timmons did a lot of reflection and self-evaluation as he went through that struggle. He recalled asking himself whether he wanted that situation to define him, or if he wanted to define the situation.
He chose the latter option, and he got to work. Timmons started working out six to seven times a week, often at 2Tenths Foundation in Pittsburgh. He’d compete against other players from the Pittsburgh area who had significantly more collegiate interest, and he’d win those battles.
“People tell me, like, ‘Yo, you really came out of nowhere.’ Cause I did. Nobody knew who I was. A year ago today, I had 600 followers on Instagram,” Timmons said. “You got to do what it takes.”
It took some time, but offers eventually poured in. His work paid off, and led him to commit to play defensive back for Curt Cignetti at Indiana in the class of 2026.
Blessing and a curse
Timmons has lived much of his life under a spotlight.
When your dad is former NFL Pro Bowler Lawrence Timmons, the brighter lights come with the territory. Jay felt people expected greatness from him on the field simply because of his name; anything less than that represented failure.
Timmons is far from the only recruit, in any sport, to have a parent who also played the game at a high level. He’s not even the only such example in IU football’s class of 2026 — Blake Smythe’s grandfather played for the Hoosiers from 1979-83.
There are a lot of advantages that come with being a legacy athlete. There’s the genetic and financial aspects, the increased exposure from having an already recognizable name, and the benefit of having someone with intimate knowledge of the game around all the time.
But it can be both a blessing and a curse for some in that situation, and the negatives are often overlooked from the outside.
“Not everybody gets to have a dad that played in the NFL. And it sucks — if I wasn’t good, everybody would be disappointed in me. That’s just the truth,” Timmons said. “There’s no sugar-coating it. (If) you’re a Pro Bowler’s son, (if) you’re trash, everybody would be hating. But that’s the fact.”
Timmons has carried that burden through his playing career, but he’s still reaped benefits from his dad.
Jay said he’s not the closest with his father, but they talk every so often. He hesitated to say Lawrence was always by his side as his own football journey has progressed. But he knows he’s fortunate to have all the opportunities he’s had because of the work his dad put in throughout his 11-year NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins.
But he had to get used to the expectations that come with being the son of a high-profile NFL player, and that wasn’t easy.
“It was definitely tough. There was times where I doubted myself a lot,” Timmons said. “Back then, a year ago today and me today, I wouldn’t even say we’re same person. I was super quiet, cause I didn’t have confidence. I didn’t feel like I had the right to speak up.”
Improvement
Akron was the lone program to offer Timmons in spring and summer 2024.
He wound up with 23 offers by mid-April 2025, but he lagged behind peers receiving more interest early on in the recruiting process. The Akron offer reaffirmed Timmons’ belief in his own potential, but he still felt unfulfilled.
“No offense to anybody, but I wasn’t content with Akron at all. I wanted more,” Timmons said. “I remember there was a night where I thought back, and I hadn’t gotten any offers in a long time. And I remember going back into those holes. But I go back on the field, and it just solves all your problems. I feel like it really changed my life.”
The work Timmons put in paid dividends on the field.
He played in just five games as a a sophomore at Pine-Richland, recording eight total tackles with an interception, along a 91-yard touchdown catch as a wide receiver.
Last season, as a junior, the defensive back played in all 13 games for the Rams. Timmons recorded 42 total tackles, with three tackles for loss and one sack, and he added four interceptions, 10 passes defended, three forced fumbles, and four defensive touchdowns. On offense, he rushed for 108 yards on eight carries, and he caught 40 passes for 755 yards and eight touchdowns.
Indiana actually asked Timmons whether he’d rather play defensive back or wide receiver in college. He preferred defensive back for the freedom that comes with that position.
“I just feel like as a receiver … you have to rely on the O-line, the offensive coordinator, the quarterback, the play call. As a DB, I feel like you go out, you grind every day. Even though DB is one of the hardest positions, it comes with great responsibility,” Timmons said. “I just feel like when you go out there, you just ball.”
Becoming a Hoosier
IU was the seventh school to offer Timmons, in mid-January.
The Hoosiers sort of came out of nowhere for Timmons — he wasn’t anticipating that offer. Offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Mike Shanahan went to Pine-Richland to watch Timmons in a February weight room session, and the offer came that day.
That was his first Big Ten offer, and his fourth power conference offer. He recalled one of his friends picking up an IU offer and feeling jealous, remembering the team’s strong 2024 season. But the Hoosiers weren’t necessarily at the forefront for Timmons right away. His official visit — his first official visit to any program — sealed the deal.
“I wouldn’t say I was super thinking I was going to go to Indiana. I just never really thought about Indiana. But when I went to this official visit, and I went with the team and heard what (safeties and defensive backs) coach (Ola) Adams and all the coaching staff and the strength coach (said), it’s just special. I like what they’re building,” Timmons said. “Coach Cig’s a Pittsburgh dude, coach Shanahan’s a Pittsburgh dude. I think we can really build something special.”
Timmons cited playing in the Big Ten as part of what led to his decision, but he held other offers from Iowa, Wisconsin, and Maryland. So it went beyond just the conference allure.
He feels he’ll be able to make an immediate impact at IU, which was important for him. He also appreciated the level of detail IU’s defensive staff goes to in running the defense, and how thorough the scheme, itself, is.
And tough Timmons had limited interaction with Cignetti, IU’s head coach left a strong impression on the defensive back.
“I feel like he has the same mindset as me,” Timmons said. “I haven’t really talked to him a lot, but I feel like his confidence is something real special. He’s not afraid to show who he is and how he feels. I really like that. He stands on business. He’s the real deal.”
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