GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida has lost quarterback Jeff Driskel for the season.
Driskel will need surgery after breaking his right leg in the first quarter of Saturday's 31-17 win against Tennessee, coach Will Muschamp said after the game.
"Jeff Driskel is as tough a kid as I've been around so when he looked at the sideline and waved, I knew it was bad," Muschamp said on CBS.
Driskel fractured his fibula, the smaller bone in the lower leg, Muschamp said.
Junior Tyler Murphy, who replaced Driskel on the next drive, will take over as starter for the Gators, according to Muschamp. Murphy completed 8-of-14 passes with a touchdown and had 10 carries for 84 yards and a TD against the Vols.
Driskel, already playing with a brace on his sprained left knee, left the field on crutches while throwing an interception in the first quarter. Devaun Swafford picked off the pass and returned it 62 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 Tennessee lead. Marlon Walls pulled Driskel to the ground as he released the ball.
Driskel tried to get up, but then dropped back to the turf and called for trainers.
He limped off the field a few minutes later, was checked on the sideline and used crutches to get to the locker room. He was taken for X-rays, Muschamp confirmed.
Driskel thanked fans on Twitter after the game.
Big win. congrats to murph. i know hell do great the rest of the way. Thanks for all the get well wishes.
— Jeff Driskel (@jeffdriskel) September 21, 2013
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.