JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—Eight weeks ago Rodney Sumter survived being shot several times in the nation's deadliest mass shooting.
The Jacksonville native was bartending at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando when that tragedy unfolded. Since then, he's made amazing progress.
He was invited Friday night to be a special guest and watch the Jaguars scrimmage from the sidelines.
"Football is my life man,” says Sumter.
Rodney Sumter has played football in Jacksonville since he was 6 years old. Probably his most notable teammate was Tim Tebow, the Hiesman trophy winning ex-Florida Gator quarterback. He played with Tebow in high school.
He's also a huge Jags fan.
“To be able to finally touch EverBank Field, which used to be Alltel Stadium, just growing up, it is amazing to be out here," Sumter says.
This summer has been an emotional one for Sumter. He was working as a bartender at Pulse Nightclub before being shot three times - twice in the arm and once in the back.
After hearing how big of a fan he was, the team invited him to stand on the sidelines for their scrimmage.
"Nothing brings me down," Sumter says. "I really appreciate all the love and support that I’ve had. This is awesome, one of the most awesome things that happened to me since the incident happened."
Since football is his love, he was very tempted to try and catch a pass.
"It makes me want to come out and run around," he says. "I am just taking it one day at a time. As soon as I can get my fist to ball up and my index finger to work, I will be all right."
And what's a visit to Everbank without meeting some of the players?
"You doing all right man?” asks Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles “I am praying for you man.”