(CNN) -- A Tulane University football player who fractured his spine in a head-on collision with a teammate during a weekend game is "alert and responsive" after surgery, the school's athletic director said Monday. 

Devon Walker is expected to remain in intensive care for the next few days after a three-hour operation at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Sunday, the Tulane athletics department said. Walker, a safety for the Green Wave, was injured Saturday when he collided head-on with a teammate while trying to tackle a Tulsa ball carrier. 

Rick Dickson, Tulane's athletic director, told reporters Monday afternoon that he was "absolutely thrilled" with the reports of Walker's condition, but had few details to offer. 

"Devon is alert and responsive," Dickson said. "How that manifests beyond that, I don't know how to respond." He deferred questions about whether Walker was able to move parts of his body to doctors, saying the senior was "in the hands of extremely competent and dedicated professionals." 

Film aims to show football's culture of playing despite concussions 

Walker lay motionless on the Tulsa field as trainers and doctors rushed to him. Dr. Felix Savoie, an orthopedist for Tulane University and chief of sports medicine at the school, said after the game Walker suffered a "cervical spine fracture" as well as an edema, or swelling from a build-up of excess fluid, in his neck. 

Tulane University's director of sports medicine Dr. Greg Stewart, who was with Walker on the field, said Sunday that, "for the most part, he was coherent" throughout the ordeal. 
Who is Devon Walker?
What happened to him?
how?
what were they doing?
Is he okay?
Will he stay there long?
Where is he?
How does the school feel about this?
HOw does the school feel about his condition?
What did the athletic director say about his condition?
What grade is he in?
Who did he collide with?
what was he doing at the time?
A Tulane University football player
 A Tulane University football player who fractured his spine in a head-on collision with a teammate during a weekend game is "alert and responsive" after surgery, the school's athletic director said Monday. 

Devon Walker
he fractured his spine
 Tulane University football player who fractured his spine
in a head-on collision with a teammate
fractured his spine in a head-on collision with a teammate 
playing a weekend game
 Tulane University football player who fractured his spine in a head-on collision with a teammate during a weekend game
he is in intensive care
Devon Walker is expected to remain in intensive care
for the next few days
Devon Walker is expected to remain in intensive care for the next few days
at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Devon Walker is expected to remain in intensive care for the next few days after a three-hour operation at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma
unknown
unknown
they aim to show football's culture of playing despite concussions
Film aims to show football's culture of playing despite concussions
that he was "absolutely thrilled"
Rick Dickson, Tulane's athletic director, told reporters Monday afternoon that he was "absolutely thrilled"
senior
saying the senior was
a teammate
he collided head-on with a teammate
trying to tackle a Tulsa ball carrier
when he collided head-on with a teammate while trying to tackle a Tulsa ball carrier