Florida State football stars pay tribute to teammate Ethan Pritchard as he fights for his life after shooting

Hospitalized Florida State linebacker Ethan Pritchard was on the hearts and minds of his teammates as they took the field against East Texas A&M on Saturday in Tallahassee.

Cornerback Earl Little Jr. led the Seminoles out of the tunnel at Doak Campbell Stadium with Pritchard’s No. 35 jersey in his outstretched hands.

Meanwhile, Pritchard’s father Earl watched the game from the sideline as a guest of the Seminoles, who cruised to an easy 77-3 win over the FCS school from the Southland Conference.

Florida State upset Alabama last week while Pritchard was inactive, only for the freshman linebacker to be shot and rushed to the hospital the following night.

As Pritchard's father Earl told WFTV in Orlando last week, the Seminoles freshman was wounded in the back of the head on Sunday as he was driving his aunt home from a family gathering on the Florida-Georgia border.

'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.'

Earl said doctors are currently monitoring the swelling in his son's head following surgery. He remains in stable condition.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Gadsden County Sheriff's Office are investigating the shooting. No arrests have been made.

Florida State coach Mike Norvell said Wednesday that he has been in touch with Pritchard at the hospital.

'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.'

On Monday morning, FSU released a statement which read: 'Ethan Pritchard is in a critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit at a local hospital after suffering a gunshot wound last night while visiting family in Havana, Florida.

'The Pritchard family is thankful for the support from so many people, as well as the care from first responders and medical professionals, and asks that their privacy be respected at this time.'

The Gadsden County sheriff's department told WCTV that the incident took place around 10pm, with Pritchard found wounded inside the car.

'Officers did arrive (and) were able to get him out of the vehicle, and EMS arrived where they transported him to a local hospital,' Captain Anglie Holmes told WCTV.

Pritchard joined FSU in December 2024 but the linebacker did not play in the Seminoles' stunning 31-17 win over Alabama in Week 1.

On Monday morning, the Seminoles' football director of recruiting Devin Rispress shared a Facebook post asking for people to pray for Pritchard.