Ethan Pritchard expected to walk out with FSU in Week 0 year after gunshot wound
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When Florida State takes the field Saturday night for its Week 0 opener against New Mexico State, linebacker Ethan Pritchard is expected to join the Seminoles during their pregame entrance at Doak Campbell Stadium.
The moment is expected to be one of the night's most emotional scenes, coming nearly a year after Pritchard survived a gunshot wound to the back of the head while driving home from a family gathering.
A former three-star recruit in Florida State's 2025 recruiting class, Pritchard was shot on Aug. 31, 2025, and spent weeks recovering — including time in the intensive care unit under "critical but stable" conditions — before being released from the hospital in October.
Pritchard made his intention to walk out onto the field in Week 0 known back in June when speaking with the Tallahassee Democrat, part of the USA TODAY Network.
"I don't want to put no specific time standpoint, but I will tell you that I'm going to walk out there on the field, come first game," Pritchard told the Tallahassee Democrat. "I feel like I already beat the hard part. I beat death. This is just getting my body back."
In mid-June, a Facebook video showed Pritchard taking steps on his own without a walker in front of family members. Just yesterday, Pritchard, while wearing a leg brace, was seen once again in a video walking on his own power
FSU linebacker and Seminole High grad Ethan Pritchard was shot in the back of the head nearly a year ago. He is now moving again and plans to walk out with the Seminoles for their season opener. pic.twitter.com/FWA45QXkg3
— Spectrum News 13 (@MyNews13) August 28, 2026
"I am feeling great, better than ever, better than I did before I got shot," Pritchard told a group of reporters on Friday, Aug. 28.
While Pritchard continues to take his recovery one day at a time, a return to the gridiron remains his long-term goal and picture.
"I will be back," Pritchard said on Friday.
Florida State, picked to finish 11th in the ACC preseason poll, and New Mexico State are set for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ethan Pritchard expected to walk out with FSU in Week 0 year after gunshot wound
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