Devon Walker To Return To Tulsa To Say 'Thank You'

The 2014 season opener for both Tulane and Tulsa will be emotional for both sides.

This year's contest marks the first meeting between the two teams at Tulsa's H.A. Chapman Stadium since 2012 when Tulane senior safety and team captain Devon Walker suffered a cervical spine fracture on the field.

Walker will return to the site of his life-altering event and thank the athletics trainers from both Tulane and the University of Tulsa, the EMT's who responded to his injury and the staff at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa who treated Walker for 10 days.

A “thank you” video from Walker will air at halftime and he and his mother, Inez, will join individuals who answered the call that day on the field for a halftime recognition.

On Sept. 8, 2012, in the Conference USA opener for both Tulane and Tulsa, Walker collided with a teammate while attempting to make a tackle on the final play of the first half.

Walker was transported to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa and the following day he underwent a three-hour surgery where neurosurgeons stabilized his spine. He injured his C3 and C4 vertebrae, which left him paralyzed from the neck down.

Ten days later, Walker was moved to a comprehensive in-patient rehabilitation center in Atlanta, Ga., to continue his recovery. He spent several months in the hospital before returning home in December 2012.

And that is where his true return began. In late August of 2013, almost a year after his injury, he returned to the classroom and to the football field sidelines as an ever-present supporter of his teammates, a testament to his determination and resilience.

He re-enrolled in classes to complete his bachelor's degree in cell and molecular biology. On December 12, 2013, he received the 2013 Disney Spirit Award, an honor given annually by Disney Sports to college football's most inspirational figure.

Walker participated in graduation ceremonies at the Superdome with his friends and teammates and on the same day he was signed as a free agent by the New Orleans Saints.

Walker returns to the Tulane campus on Aug. 25 to begin his pursuit of a Master's degree.