Tulane Safety Devon Walker Undergoes First Surgery, Now Recovering

Tulane provides update on injured safety Devon Walker

Walker and his family have left Tulsa for an undisclosed in-patient rehabilitation center as Walker recovers from a spinal fracture.

Tulane, Ole Miss Both Paying Tribute To Devon Walker

Ole Miss has done a nice job of showing respect for their regional neighbors in Tulane, sporting DW helmet decals in honor of seriously injured Green Wave player Devon Walker. The recovering safety is getting plenty of love in this game, including Tulane players all wearing his number on their helmets, teammate Alex Lauricella running his jersey out before the kick and a pregame T-shirt sale with proceeds going to his recovery fund.

Love that the Wave coaching staff is wearingDevon Walker tees, btw. Awesome gesture from Ole Miss to have a DW helmet sticker, too.

— David Helman(@HelmanESPN) September 22, 2012

Chris Graythen/Getty Images Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

Check the national college football scoreboard right here, and look through SB Nation's many excellent college football blogs to find your team's community.

Follow @SBNationCFB

Ole Miss Will Support Devon Walker With Decals

Devon Walker's Family: Medical Care Has Been 'Outstanding'

The family of injured Tulane safety Devon Walker released a statement in thanks of supporters following Walker's brutal injury against Tulsa on Saturday. As the result of a collision with his own teammate, Walker suffered a broken neck and collapsed lung. Walker underwent surgery on Sunday to stabilize his spine, and is currently "awake and recovering."

Tulane Athletics Director Rick Dickson read the statement on the family's behalf:

"We have been overwhelmed by the amount of concerned well wishes we have received from all over the world. Although we cannot respond individually to all, we thank everyone for the love and support shown to Devon and our family. The medical care that our son has received so far has been outstanding. We are also very grateful for the care and concern shown to us by those here at Tulsa University, in the City of Tulsa, at Tulane University and of course by everyone at home in New Orleans.

"We appreciate you respecting our family's request for privacy. We do ask that you continue to keep Devon in your prayers."

For more college football coverage, visit SB Nation's NCAA Football Hub.

Devon Walker Injury: Tulane Safety Has Surgery To Stabilize Spine

Injured Tulane safety Devon Walker underwent his first of several surgeries on Sunday, little more than 24 hours after his devastating injury on the field during Saturday's Tulane-Tulsa game in Tulsa, Okla. The surgery on Sunday was to stabilize his spine:

Tulane statement says Devon Walker had 3-hour surgery today to stabilize his spine. Said it will be days before condition can be assessed

— Pat Forde (@YahooForde) September 10, 2012

Doctors have stated that because of swelling in the area it will be difficult to assess the long-term effects of the injury:

Indeed, the swelling can impair neurological function and make it difficult to tell immediately how much is truly lost and how much may return as a patient stabilizes and the swelling decreases.

Eric LeGrand, a Rutgers player who suffered similar injury two years ago but has since recovered significantly, has stated that he plans to reach out to Walker and his family.

For more college football coverage, visit SB Nation's NCAA Football Hub.

Devon Walker Injury: No Collapsed Lung Or Tracheotomy Performed

Tulane safety Devon Walker suffered a frightening neck injury during Saturday's game between the Green Wave and the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. In spite of initial reports to the contrary, however, he did not suffer a collapsed long or have a tracheotomy performed on the field as medical personnel tended to him, per Tulane team doctors.

"He did not drop a lung," said Green Wave team doctor Greg Stewart. He added that the doctors and paramedics on hand did perform CPR on Walker while he was on the field.

"When we first got out there and were dealing with him, we didn't have any equipment so it's all about what you can feel through sweat and gloves and all that kind of stuff. So, yes we did [perform CPR] because we figured we would rather err on the side on doing compressions when we didn't need to as opposed to not doing them and wishing we had."

As to the reports of possible paralysis from Walker's injuries, Stewart said that the possibility of such remains unknown.

"The reality is you don't know for 24 to 48 hours."

Walker was taken to Tulsa's St. Francis Hospital where he was diagnosed with a fractured cervical vertebra and swelling of the spinal cord. Per a statement released by the Tulane athletic department, Walker is set to have surgery in the "next one to two days."

Whether or not Walker will be able to return to full health is not yet known.

For more college football coverage, visit SB Nation's NCAA Football Hub.

Devon Walker Injury: Tulane Safety Fractures Cervical Spine, To Have Surgery

Tulane safety Devon Walker has a cervical spine fracture and will undergo surgery in the next two days, says Tulane team doctor Buddy Savoie (via KTUL Tulsa's John Moss.)

Walker suffered the injury just before halftime of Tulane's game against Tulsa. After a massive collision with a teammate he was breathing but unresponsive on the field, and CPR and an emergency tracheotomy were performed. An ambulance was brought on to the field, and Walker was responsive by the time he was taken to the hospital. In addition to the cervical fracture, Walker suffered a collapsed lung.

Walker sustained the injury while trying to make a tackle, where both he and a teammate missed, and he collided head-to-head with a defensive tackle nearly 100 pounds heavier. A GIF of the injury can be found here.

Walker is a senior who has collected 47 tackles, four pass break-ups, and a forced fumble in 31 games at Tulane.

Stick with this StoryStream for updates on this story. For complete NCAA football coverage, visit SB Nation's college football hub.

Follow @SBNationCFB

Devon Walker Suffered Broken Neck, Collapsed Lung, According To Report

Tulane safety Devon Walker suffered a broken neck and a collapsed lung after a horrifying collision with a teammate on the final play of the first half of the Green Wave's game against Tulsa on Saturday, according to John Moss of KTUL-TV in Tulsa, OK. The collision brought an ambulance onto the field of H.A. Chapman Stadium as Walker needed immediate medical attention.

The senior from New Orleans, La. stopped breathing while on the field and had to receive CPR to be revived. An emergency tracheotomy was also performed by medical personnel. In a positive sign, Walker was breathing and responsive by the time he was taken into the ambulance, but faces a long road to recovery ahead.

Walker has amassed 47 tackles, four pass break-ups, and a forced fumble in 31 games at Tulane.

Stay tuned to SB Nation's NCAA Football hub for updates to this story, as well as for further college football coverage.

Devon Walker Injury: Tulane Safety Hospitalized, In Stable Condition

Tulane safety Devon Walker is now in stable condition at a Tulsa hospital, according to WBRC-TV's Rick Karle.

Walker received CPR on the field during Tulane's game against Tulsa on Saturday after what looked to be a head and/or neck injury just before the half. The injury occurred while Walker attempted to make a play on the ball but instead, ran into one of his teammates. The CPR was administered when he stopped breathing at one point, but he was breathing and responsive before getting in the ambulance and leaving the field.

The former walk-on does a little bit of everything for the Green Wave as he plays on special teams and in the secondary, appearing in 30 games during his first three seasons with the team.

Stay tuned to SB Nation's NCAA Football hub for updates to this story, as well as for further college football coverage.

Devon Walker Injury: Tulane Safety Was Former Walk-On

Tulane safety Devon Walker received CPR on the field during the Green Wave's game against Tulsa on Saturday afternoon after sustaining an apparent head and/or neck injury just before halftime. Walker was attempting to make a play on a Tulsa player, but inadvertently collided with his own teammate instead. He at one point stopped breathing, but it was confirmed that he was both breathing and responsive by the time he was loaded into the ambulance.

Walker, a former walk-on senior from New Orleans, La., appeared in 30 games for the Green Wave in his first three seasons, providing depth in the secondary and playing on special teams. He totaled 47 tackles, four pass breakups and one forced fumble entering the 2012 season.

Walker impressed the coaching staff this summer by attending the team's 6:00 a.m. workouts before summer school classes, they told John Reid of The Times Picayune. Walker paid for the summer school classes out of his own pocket.

“He wasn’t getting his summer school paid for, but he would show up with the rest of the team and do the summer conditioning even though the scholarship athletes were getting their room and board paid,’’ Tulane secondary coach Jason Rollins said.

The coaches rewarded Walker's hard work and contributions to the team by giving him a scholarship for his senior season, just the third walk-on scholarship Tulane coach Bob Toledo has handed out in his four years as Green Wave coach, he told The Times Picayune.

“I think it’s great, I always try to do it at the first meeting (before preseason camp), and the kids get all excited when they know a guy deserves it,’’ Toledo said. “It proves to these other freshmen or walk-ons that if they work hard, they may have a chance down the road to earn a scholarship and maybe we’ll get more walk-ons.’’

Walker spent the summer in a competition for the starting safety job with Shakiel Smith. The coaching staff was considering him because of his knack for recognizing formations quickly, according to Rollins within the same Times Picayune article.

Walker started the first game of the season and totaled nine tackles, including seven unassisted and one tackle for loss.

Stay tuned to SB Nation's NCAA Football hub for updates to this story, as well as for further college football coverage.

Devon Walker Injury: Tulane Safety Receives CPR On Field, Leaves In Ambulance

Tulane safety Devon Walker was taken off the field in an ambulance at H.A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa, Okla. after having CPR administered to him following an apparent head and/or neck injury in the Green Wave's game against Tulsa on Saturday.

The injury occurred on the final play of the first half, as Walker attempted to make a play on a Tulsa player, but inadvertently collided with his own teammate instead.

Walker stopped breathing at one point after medical personnel removed his helmet and shoulder pads. However, it was confirmed that Walker was breathing and responsive by the time he was loaded into the ambulance.

Walker, a senior from New Orleans, La., was playing in his 31st career game on Saturday. He has accumulated 47 tackles, four pass break-ups, and a forced fumble in three seasons at Tulane.

Below is the hit that injured him.

Check the national college football scoreboard right here, and look through SB Nation's many excellent college football blogs to find your team's community.

Follow @SBNationCFB