Antonio Cromartie‘s son will follow in his father’s footsteps and play defensive back at Florida State … and Dad tells TMZ Sports he couldn’t be happier about it!!

Antonio Cromartie Jr. — a teenager who plays his high school ball at Carrollton H.S. in Georgia — just committed to the Seminoles earlier this month … and when we sat down with Sr. this week, the former NFL superstar called the whole thing “surreal.”

Cromartie Sr. — who played for FSU in 2003 and 2004 — said the offer from Florida State came from the Noles’ coaching staff on Christmas … and he said it was “better than any gift I could give” his son.

Jr. was just as thrilled as Dad with the decision … explaining to us, “I’ve always dreamed of playing at Florida State as a kid and now that it’s here, I’m grateful.”

As a member of the 2025 class, Cromartie Jr. will head to campus in just a few months … and Sr. told us over the next few weeks they’ll begin learning how to prepare for the college game in earnest.

Cromartie Sr. said they’ll watch tape and train hard … with the hopes it’ll allow Jr. to play faster as a freshman.

As for what the Seminoles can expect out of the younger Cromartie when he eventually dons the FSU helmet and pads … he said it’s simple — they’re getting a ball hawk.