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2024 Athlete Javier Etheridge Picks Indiana Over Penn State, Others

Javier "JayJay" Etheridge, a three-star athlete in the class of 2024, recently committed to Indiana over a final list of schools including Penn State, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest. He's expected to play wide receiver for the Hoosiers.

Jack Ankony

2024 Athlete Javier Etheridge Picks Indiana Over Penn State, Others
2024 Athlete Javier Etheridge Picks Indiana Over Penn State, Others /
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana coach Tom Allen beat a list of Power 5 programs on May 13 when Javier "JayJay" Etheridge committed to the Hoosiers.

Etheridge, a three-star athlete in the class of 2024, picked Indiana over Penn State, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.

"First and foremost, I want to give thanks to the higher power above for giving my this opportunity," Etheridge said in a Twitter video. "I want to say thanks to my parents for keeping me on the right path and being here every step of the way. I want to give a big thanks to coach Stevens for being my mentor and guiding me through this process. I want to thank all coaches that recruited me and gave me a chance through this long, great, stressful process. These past three years have been great on becoming who I am. I've been doubted, called too small, but that never stopped me. With that being said, I'll be committing to Indiana University. Go Hoosiers."

At 5-foot-10 and 156 pounds, Etheridge is ranked No. 1131 over in the class of 2024, No. 122 among athletes and No. 47 in Ohio, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

He played wide receiver and defensive back during his junior year at Mount Healthy High School near Cincinnati, Ohio. Etheridge caught 41 passes for 678 yards and seven touchdowns. On defense, he made 50 tackles with four pass breakups, one forced fumble and one sack. 

Recruiting sites list Etheridge as an athlete because he played both sides of the ball, but 247Sports recruiting analyst Allen Trieu wrote that Etheridge is expected to play wide receiver at Indiana. The Hoosiers' new wide receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator Anthony Tucker also played a key role in Etheridge's recruitment, along with Allen.

With this addition, Indiana has four commitments in the class of 2024: Etheridge, tight end Brody Kosin, offensive lineman Mitch Verstegen and quarterback Timothy Carpenter. 

Related stories on Indiana football

  • ANTHONY JONES TRANSFERS TO INDIANA: Anthony Jones, a 6-foot-4, 255-pound outside linebacker, is transferring to Indiana after one season as a redshirt at Oregon. CLICK HERE
  • INDIANA ADDS 2024 QUARTERBACK CARPENTER: Indiana football picked up class of 2024 quarterback Timothy Carpenter, a 6-foot-4, three-star recruit out of Trotwood-Madison High School outside of Dayton, Ohio. CLICK HERE
  • JOJO JOHNSON TRANSFERS TO INDIANA: After beginning his career at Notre Dame, Merrillville, Ind. native JoJo Johnson is transferring to Indiana for the 2023 season. CLICK HERE
  • ROBBY HARRISON TRANSFERS TO INDIANA: Indiana picked up another transfer during the spring window, with former Arizona State defensive lineman Robby Harrison committing to the Hoosiers Wednesday night. CLICK HERE
  • BRADLEY ARCHER TRANSFERS TO INDIANA: After four seasons at Stanford, tight end Bradley Archer is transferring to Indiana. CLICK HERE
  • INDIANA ADDS TCU TRANSFER NOAH BOLTICOFF After playing in the National Championship game for TCU, offensive lineman Noah Bolticoff is transferring to Indiana. CLICK HERE
  • SAMPSON JAMES RETURNS TO INDIANA: Sampson James, a former four-star running back, will rejoin the Indiana football program as a walk-on for the 2023 season. James played at Indiana from 2019-20 before transferring to Purdue. CLICK HERE
  • BRODY KOSIN COMMITS TO INDIANA: Indiana football picked up its first commitment in the class of 2024, tight end Brody Kosin, a three-star tight end from Clarkston, Mich. CLICK HERE
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Jack Ankony
JACK ANKONY

Jack Ankony is a Sports Illustrated/FanNation writer for HoosiersNow.com. He graduated from Indiana University's Media School with a degree in journalism. Follow on Twitter @ankony_jack.

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