Defying Odds, Returning to Field
FSU Linebacker Ethan Pritchard Aims to Walk Doak Field After Surviving Head Gunshot
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Nearly a year after a bullet to the back of his head left him in a coma, Florida State linebacker Ethan Pritchard has set his sights on one goal: walking onto the field at Doak Campbell Stadium under his own power. Tallahassee Democrat reported that the 19-year-old has vowed to make that walk on August 29, 2026, when the Seminoles open their season against New Mexico State — 363 days after the shooting that nearly killed him.
On June 17, 2026, a milestone video showed Pritchard walking without a walker for the first time since the injury. Doctors had initially left little room for hope. Survival rates for gunshot wounds to the brain can be as low as 2.1% for those who require CPR at the scene. Pritchard's father, Earl, put it plainly: "He shocked the doctors."
A Family Drive Home Turned Into an Ambush
Around 1:30 AM on August 31, 2025, Pritchard was driving home after dropping off his aunt and a three-year-old child. They had been celebrating FSU's season-opening win over Alabama. Near an apartment complex in Havana, Florida — about 15 miles from Tallahassee — shots rang out. Pritchard was struck in the back of the head. TC Palm reported that he recalled: "I turned the corner and shots rang off. I put the car in reverse... after that, I don't remember what else happened."
Gadsden County Sheriff Morris Young and FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass confirmed Pritchard "was not doing anything wrong." Authorities say he was targeted by mistake — the attackers believed his vehicle belonged to a rival gang member. Four suspects were arrested by September 10: Caron Miller (18), Jayden Bodison (22), Germany Atkins (23), and an unnamed 16-year-old. All face attempted murder charges and are held without bond, according to Florida Today.
39 Days in the ICU, Then a Slow Climb Back
Pritchard spent 39 days at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, most of it in a medically induced coma. On September 14, 2025, FSU Head Coach Mike Norvell shared a breakthrough: Pritchard had opened his eyes and blinked. Norvell called it a sign that "God's working a miracle in that situation," adding that the moment gave him "appreciation of a blink." The entire FSU football team lined the hospital hallways to cheer him out when he was finally discharged on October 9, according to Naples Daily News.
From there, Pritchard spent 34 days in intense inpatient rehab at Brooks Rehabilitation in Jacksonville. He returned home to Sanford, Florida in November. On November 15, he made an emotional trip back to Doak Campbell Stadium — this time in a wheelchair — for FSU's home finale against Virginia Tech. The FSU community also rallied financially. A GoFundMe campaign raised more than $143,000 to help the Pritchard family cover medical and travel costs, The Ledger reported.
Walking Again and Re-Enrolling at Florida State
By January 2026, Pritchard was back in class at FSU, taking a mix of virtual and in-person courses. His right side — which was initially paralyzed — has regained significant function. Neurologists have called his motor recovery "miraculous." He has also regained weight lost during his ICU stay, working back toward his pre-injury playing weight of 224 pounds, according to Jacksonville.com.
The June 17 video of Pritchard walking without a walker marked the most visible sign of his progress. He credits his father, Earl, and the broader FSU community for pushing him through the darkest stretches. Pritchard's outlook stays firmly forward-looking. He has said he believes he already cleared the hardest hurdle — surviving — and that walking into Doak is simply the next step.
Playing Again Remains Uncertain, but the Goal Is August 29
Pritchard's immediate goal is clear: walk onto the field on August 29, 2026, under his own power. Whether he ever plays linebacker again is a separate and harder question. NCAA rules and FSU's own medical protocols require extensive cognitive and physical testing before any player with a penetrating brain injury can return to contact. Neurotrauma experts note that functional recovery — walking, talking, thinking — is the primary target. Playing Division I football is a far more complex medical question, News-Press reported.
Still, his presence has already changed FSU's locker room. Teammates and coaches cite Pritchard's fight as a primary source of motivation heading into the 2026 season. His story has drawn support from rival fanbases — Florida, Miami — fans who typically wouldn't cheer for a Seminole. Earl Pritchard remains confident in his son: "When the season starts back, he'll be out there full stride," he told the Daily Commercial.
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