Head coach Ken Niumatalolo confirmed yesterday that Walsh will return for a fifth season with the Navy football program after undergoing surgery last Friday. Walsh has withdrawn from the academy for the remainder of the semester and returned home to Pennsylvania to recover before undergoing rehabilitation.

NCAA rules stipulate that a player can obtain a medical redshirt provided he plays in less than 30 percent of a team's games. Walsh played in three games and nine plays before suffering a severe toe injury in the first quarter against Rutgers.

Team doctors recommended surgery after Walsh's injury did not respond to significant treatment. Dr. John Wilckens, an orthopedic surgeon, performed the surgery on Friday and Walsh received permission to leave stop attending classes for the remainder of the semester due to difficulty getting around campus on crutches.

"As far as the NCAA is concerned, it's a mere formality because Mike's situation falls within the rules. However, we had to make sure this was approved by the leadership here at the academy," Niumatalolo said. "It makes sense because he will be somewhat incapacitated for a while after surgery."

Walsh became a full-time starter as a junior in 2007 and had a breakout campaign, recording 57 tackles. The 6-foot-2, 257-pounder led Navy with 10.5 tackles for losses, three of which were sacks. A hard-nosed, tough and physical player, Walsh possesses tremendous lower body strength as evidenced by a squat lift of 555 pounds that is third-best on the team.

Walsh started the initial four games this season and was credited with eight tackles (two for losses) and a sack before injuring his right big toe.

"Nobody worked harder to get back than Michael. He went to rehab religiously and did everything the trainers asked, but just could not get it going," Niumatalolo said. "This was going to be a lost season for Michael, especially after the surgery. Ultimately, this type of decision is left up to the player. When Michael was asked about it, he said 'Coach, I would love to come back.' "

Contacted yesterday at his parents home in Newtown, Pa., Walsh said he suffered a setback when attempting to come back prior to the Pittsburgh game. It turns out the injury was far worse than initially diagnosed as ligaments were detached from the bone.

"The doctors said my toe was pretty messed up - basically as bad as it could be," Walsh said.

Walsh had some reservations about not graduating in May with his class, but said those feelings were overwhelmed by his desire to be a key contributor in his final year of college football.

"For me, it was an easy decision. I didn't want to go out on a bad note, unable to play and having to watch every game from the sidelines," he said.

There was once a time when fifth-year football players were a rarity at service academies, but the practice has become more commonplace in recent years. Navy has two such players on the current roster in linebackers Corey Johnson and Clint Sovie.

Johnson, who played three years of varsity basketball before joining the football program in 2007, was extended academically and will graduate in December. Sovie should be a senior this season, but remained a junior in classification after having to withdraw from school following season-ending surgery last season.