Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz delivered a heavy update Tuesday night on freshman offensive tackle Johnnie “DJ” Jones, saying the lineman is on a heart transplant list in Florida after doctors uncovered a more serious condition than the staff initially expected.
Drinkwitz said the issue surfaced after Jones arrived in Columbia over the summer. Missouri’s staff found a heart concern, then monitored him for two weeks before sending him to the Mayo Clinic’s Jacksonville, Florida, campus for more evaluation.
“We weren’t getting the resolution that we wanted,” Drinkwitz said.
At the clinic, medical personnel determined Jones had a “much more significant issue,” and he was placed on a heart transplant list last week. He remains at the clinic.
“It’s tough right now,” Drinkwitz said, pausing at times during his answer. “Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family as they go through this.
I know Johnnie was watching our game. ... It’s just hard.
“An 18-year-old with everything in front of him. You’re just not prepared for that kind of news.
Our team wasn’t prepared for that kind of news. But we’re praying for him, and I know a lot of Mizzou fans would hopefully join in that prayer because he does need help, in a hurry.
“We’re pulling for you buddy.”
Jones came to Missouri as one of the more highly regarded offensive tackles in Florida’s 2024 recruiting class. The Bradenton native was a four-star prospect and ranked among the top 300 recruits by various outlets. He measured 6-foot-6 and 315 pounds.
Before arriving in Columbia, Jones helped Berkeley Prep win the 2023 FHSAA Class 2M state championship, the first in school history. The former basketball player later transferred to Venice High and played a role in the Indians reaching the FHSAA Class 7A state semifinals as a senior.
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