Ethan Pritchard was shot in the back of the head on Sunday night, following the Florida State Seminoles’ Week 1 victory over Alabama. According to his father, Earl Pritchard, the freshman remains stable at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.
Earl Pritchard told local Orlando TV station WFTV that he was shot while driving his aunt from a family gathering to her house, near the border with Georgia.
“He was actually in the car taking my sister around the corner to her daughter’s house to drop her off,” Earl Pritchard told WFTV. “They turned the corner, and as soon as they turned the corner, they heard gunshots.”
Florida State freshman linebacker Ethan Pritchard was shot in the back of the head on Sunday night, his father said, and remains in stable condition at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. https://t.co/puU1ED2TYF
— ESPN (@espn) September 3, 2025
Pritchard is a former three-star recruit from Sanford, Florida. He was ranked as the 73rd linebacker in the nation and the 81st best overall prospect in the nation for the class of 2025.
Florida State’s Mike Norvell Statement on Ethan Pritchard’s Condition
Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell also spoke with the media, stating on Wednesday that he was in contact with the family and that he visited the Ethan Pritchard briefly.
“It’s a lot, not going to say it’s not,” Norvell said. “I try to give the players a daily update. … I was able to go by yesterday for a short period of time with limited visitation, just getting a chance to be there for a handful of minutes. It was good to be with him.
“He’s still in stable condition. We are absolutely praying for him every day and trying to be there for our players, too. Yes, it’s one thing on the field, but it’s also off the field, that’s one of their brothers and a guy they deeply care about. Just working through this part of the tragedy of what it is.”
Pritchard didn’t play on Saturday’s 31-17 victory of the Seminoles over then No. 8 Alabama. Norvell’s team managed to pull off the upset, despite entering the game as two-touchdown underdogs. For their performance, the Seminoles were rewarded with the No. 14 spot in the Week 2 AP Poll.
Florida State comes from a disastrous 2-10 season in 2024.
Read more:
“Where Was the Effort”: Joel Klatt Rips Into Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama Over 31–17 Loss Against FSU
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