Florida Atlantic Football landed 2 commits for their 2026 class from Tampa Bay on Sunday afternoon. Tampa Bay Tech teammates and defensive backs Eric Parks and Tyson Stroud both announced they would be beginning their collegiate careers in paradise.
Stroud, a 5’10 165 pound cornerback played in all 12 games last season for Tampa Bay Tech, recording 17 tackles, 2 interceptions, 14 passes defended and a forced fumble. Following a successful junior year as an outside corner at TBT, Stroud began to garner interest from numerous programs, receiving 14 division one offers including UCF, UConn and FIU, however after a visit alongside his teammate Eric Parks, Stroud opted to commit to FAU.
According to Stroud, the decision to commit was because of the constant communication between him and the staff over the past few months, however once he arrived in paradise it became an even easier decision.
“Since day one after I got the offer they’ve hit me up twice a week. I mean, I talked to the whole coaching staff throughout my whole recruiting process. So that was very lovely of them. And the visit was amazing. They lived up to the name paradise, for sure. It’s paradise out there. They made you feel like family. You know, besides the culture, the supporting cast, the fans, everything about the school is nice,” Stroud said.
Parks, a 6’0 170 pound defensive back also played in all 12 games last season for TBT, recording 39 tackles, including 8 for loss, an interception and 3 PBUs, ultimately finishing top 20 in his conference in total tackles. A versatile safety, Parks also had 14 offers including USF, UCF and Wake Forest, however like Stroud, left his official visit this past weekend knowing he was going to be an Owl.
Parks mentioned that from day one the way that FAU treated him never changed and that is ultimately what led to him committing on Sunday.
“What led me to committing to the Owls was the family environment and how I felt loved from day 1 since I got the offer and it was the same way on the OV,” Parks said.
But what led them to commit nearly simultaneously was not some sort of forced package deal upon the coaching staff, rather Parks and Stroud both walked away from their visit with FAU feeling like paradise was the place for them.
Now that the two are set to begin their collegiate careers in Boca Raton together, Parks believes that due to the two having chemistry they could find a way to make an impact right away at FAU.
“Honestly, the timing just felt right. We had both been talking throughout our recruitment process and when we each visited FAU, it checked all the boxes. The culture, the coaching staff, and the vision they had for us really aligned. We definitely saw the advantage of bringing that chemistry from high school into college. It’s rare to have that kind of connection on the field already built in, being able to anticipate each other’s moves, communicate without saying much, and just trust each other. That’s a head start not many people get,” Parks said.
During their meetings with FAU staff, neither Stroud nor Parks forced the idea of teaming up on the Coaching Staff, however according to Stroud, the staff were the ones who were excited about that possibility, specifically mentioning DB Coach Dom Bradshaw as someone who supported the duo teaming up in paradise.
“I remember we were going to the store, and it was Coach Dom. He was calling both of us throughout that whole week, just making sure we were good. And then at that moment, me and him were like, man, this might be the school for us. The whole coaching staff loves us and everybody makes us feel like family,” Stroud said.
Stroud and Parks will be able to lean on each other as incoming freshmen in the class of 2026 which is something that could help them acclimate to college football faster than some of their freshman counterparts next season.
Having someone that truly has your back is something not everyone has but this duo has that in each other and Parks believes that beginning his career alongside Stroud is something that truly means a lot to him.
“It means a lot. This transition to college football can be intense, but having someone by your side who’s been in the grind with you from the start makes it easier. You know someone’s there who truly has your back. It’s motivating,” Parks said.
A highly touted duo, both are set to bring a dynamic skill set to paradise with Stroud mainly contributing as a cornerback, while Parks is a safety.
When asked what Stroud brings to the table as a player, Parks described him as someone who has that “it” factor and mentioned he will be someone that makes plays right away for FAU.
“Tyson’s a dog, plain and simple. He brings physicality, smart football IQ, and leadership. He’s got that “it” factor, you know he’s going to show up and make a play when it matters. Whether it’s locking up in man coverage or reading a route concept, he’s locked in,” Parks said.
As for how Stroud describes Parks, he says that he and Eric are the same player in that they will both bring energy to the defense and be able to potentially contribute right away as freshman.
“Me and Eric are the same player. He’s bringing the energy, he’s bringing the leadership. He definitely has that dog in him. Even as a freshman, everybody’s gonna respect him as a freshman. He is definitely going to bring the heat. And he’s definitely got talent to show,” Stroud said.
It was a busy weekend in paradise as Stroud and Parks joined Owen Pollock, Jeremiah Daoud and Alejandro Schmitt as 5 commits who all committed to FAU’s 2026 class on Sunday.