Florida State’s massive upset over No. 8 Alabama was completely overshadowed by the events that followed.
The Seminoles may be 1-0 on the season, but their win over Kalen DeBoer’s Crimson Tide got lost in the shuffle. Ethan Pritchard, a freshman linebacker, is in critical, but stable, condition after being shot on Sunday, August 31.
Ethan Pritchard’s Condition Revealed in Family’s Statement
Bryan Fischer, a Sports Illustrated reporter, broke down the incident, writing, “Ethan Pritchard is in 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. Further updates will be provided as they are available.”
Scary situation at FSU that puts a bit of a damper on the big win over Alabama. pic.twitter.com/MdYxtGYv0x
— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) September 1, 2025
Their statement was released on Monday, Sept. 1, just one day after the incident. ESPN’s Andrea Adelson added, “According to the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office, Pritchard was inside a vehicle outside apartments when the shooting happened.”
Pritchard is 6’2”, 219 pounds, and a freshman linebacker from Sanford, Fla.
Pritchard’s mother, Andrea, passed away just two months after giving birth to Ethan in 2007 due to a brain aneurysm. Andrea was a Florida State fan herself, so Ethan knew he wanted to explore the Seminoles program for more reasons than one.
“That played a big role in it. I’ve been trying not to think about it, but like I said, she played a big role,” Pritchard said upon committing to FSU via a 2023 feature from the Orlando Sentinel. While he could have attended schools such as Alabama, Auburn, Colorado, or Florida, he chose to be a Seminole.
Head coach Mike Norvell is another huge reason for Pritchard’s commitment. The six-year ‘Noles leader was persistent in recruiting the linebacker for quite some time.
“Coach Norvell … [he’d] been on me since freshman year. He said he was rebuilding Florida State, and he’s been doing everything that he said. I want to be a part of that,” Pritchard added.
His first game on the team couldn’t have gone any better. After winning just two games last season, the Seminoles shocked the world by taking down a Top-10 team. It marked the Crimson Tide’s first 0-1 start to a season since 2001.
According to various reports, Prtichard is in critical but stable condition, and “further updates will be provided as they are available.”
