Missouri Tigers freshman offensive tackle Johnnie “DJ” Jones received a heart transplant and is recovering, the school announced Thursday, two days after coach Eli Drinkwitz fought back tears while revealing the 18-year-old was on a transplant list.
In a statement released Thursday morning, Missouri said, “Last night, DJ received his heart transplant, and his surgery went well. He is now recovering.” The letter also thanked the medical staff that cared for Jones and the donor family “whose extraordinary gift made this possible.”
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How was Jones’ heart issue discovered?
Missouri’s medical staff detected a heart problem during freshman intake testing this summer. Drinkwitz said the staff monitored the 18-year-old in Columbia for about two weeks without finding a resolution, so the program sent him to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, where doctors discovered “a much more significant issue.”
“Last week, we found out that Johnnie is now on a heart transplant list,” Drinkwitz said Tuesday. “He’s in Mayo, and it’s tough right now.”
Who is Missouri freshman DJ Jones?
Jones arrived in Columbia as the highest-rated signee in Missouri’s 2026 recruiting class. 247Sports ranked the four-star prospect as the No. 11 offensive tackle and No. 108 overall player in the cycle.
The 6-foot-6 lineman started at left tackle for Venice High School, which reached its division’s championship game during his senior season. He initially committed to UCLA, then chose Missouri over Georgia, Ole Miss, Florida and Florida State before signing in early December.
Jones hasn’t appeared in a game this season. A support page organizer, La’Ron Louis, created a page on Oct. 6 and set a $200,000 goal to help the Jones family cover hospital bills, transportation, meals and time away from work during his extended hospital stay.
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Missouri rallies before Texas A&M game
Missouri Tigers head coach Eliah Drinkwitz reacts from the sideline | William Purnell-Imagn Images
Drinkwitz gave the Venice High School product a shoutout in his on-field postgame interview after Missouri’s 45-17 win over then-No. 8 Florida on Saturday, a result SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum used to rule the Gators out of the College Football Playoff race.
“I know Johnnie was watching our game,” Drinkwitz said Tuesday. “But we’re praying for him, and I know a lot of Mizzou fans will hopefully join in that prayer, because he does need help in a hurry.”
The blowout lifted Missouri 11 spots to No. 14 in the AP Top 25 at 4-1. Texas A&M at Missouri kicks off at noon ET Saturday at Faurot Field on ABC, and Missouri said it will continue to share updates on the freshman tackle’s recovery when it can.
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Source: Yahoo Sports
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