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Florida State’s 34–14 win over Virginia Tech on Friday night was special for more than just football. It became an emotional moment for the whole team when freshman linebacker Ethan Pritchard returned to the sideline. It was his first time back since surviving a gunshot wound to the head on August 31.
Ethan Pritchard arrived at Doak Campbell Stadium in a wheelchair, and his teammates were excited and relieved to see him. The young player spent almost six weeks in a Tallahassee hospital before moving to a rehab center in Jacksonville. When he first got there, he couldn’t move the right side of his body. But one morning, he surprised everyone by lifting his arm. From that point, he started improving little by little.
Now, Ethan Pritchard is back home in Central Florida to continue rehab. He still has a lot of recovery ahead of him, but he already has big dreams. He wants to return to class for the spring semester and hopes to be back on the field with the Seminoles next fall. His father, Earl, said doctors are amazed by his progress. “He shocked the doctors,” Earl said. “They didn’t expect this. But he’s so determined, we just enjoy the ride.”
Quarterback Tommy Castellanos was one of the players most moved by Pritchard’s return. He said he had a hard time holding back tears. “It was a very emotional day,” Castellanos said. “Seeing him at the game again means a lot.”
Castellanos also delivered on the field, scoring a 16-yard touchdown that helped secure the win and keep FSU’s bowl hopes alive. When reporters asked if this might be his last game at Doak Campbell Stadium, he said he was focused on the present. I am only living here and now, he said. “I trust God and His plan.”
The entire FSU community has been supporting Ethan Pritchard. A GoFundMe started by his friends has raised over $148,000 for his medical care. His father thanked everyone for their prayers, donations, and love. He also praised head coach Mike Norvell and the team. “Florida State is the best,” Earl said. “They don’t just talk—they show it.”
For now, the Seminoles celebrate more than a victory—they celebrate the return of a teammate who survived a life-changing event. And if Ethan Pritchard gets his wish, he’ll walk back onto that field again soon.
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