Father of Florida QB Brantley has prostate cancer

Published Feb. 26, 2010 10:41 a.m. ET

foxsports

The father of Florida quarterback John Brantley has prostate cancer and will have surgery next month.

Brantley says his dad, former Florida quarterback John Brantley III, is scheduled to have surgery March 10. The elder Brantley threw for 1,334 yards and 11 touchdowns in 1978.

His son, John Brantley IV, is taking over for former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow this year. The 6-foot-3, 217-pound junior from nearby Ocala completed 75 percent of his passes for 410 yards and seven TDs last season - mostly in mop-up duty.

He says his family keeps telling him not to worry about his father's cancer and that everything is going to be fine. He says his father is trying to focus on football and not let the situation affect him.