Myles Graham continues to lead Florida's defense in victory over Texas

Linebacker Myles Graham was one of the most reliable pieces of Florida's defense in Week 7.

In a contest that saw the Gators defeat the Longhorns, 27-24, Graham continued his strong stretch of play, leading the Gators with seven total tackles while adding three solo stops, one sack and one tackle for loss. His performance earned him Gators Wire's defensive player of the game honors for the second straight week.

The second-year defender remained active around the line of scrimmage, building on an impressive Week 6 performance against South Carolina in which he recorded eight tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss.

While his numbers on Saturday did not quite match his production from the previous game, Graham once again showed his ability to impact the game as both a run defender and tackler.

His performance was reflected in his Pro Football Focus grades.

According to PFF, Graham earned Florida's highest run-defense grade (75.7) and highest tackling grade (83.2) for the Orange and Blue in Week 7. His ability to consistently bring down ball carriers and make plays near the line of scrimmage helped him stand out among the Gators' defenders.

Graham's back-to-back performances have established him as one of Florida's most dependable defenders during a difficult stretch of SEC play. Over the last two games, he has combined for 15 tackles, three sacks and three tackles for loss.

As Florida continues through the heart of its conference schedule, Graham's emergence gives the Gators a reliable second-level defender and a player capable of making an impact against both the run and the pass.

They will need his leadership as they enter a bye week to prepare for the Georgia Bulldogs, whom they play in Atlanta on Oct. 31 after an upcoming bye week.