Missouri freshman offensive lineman DJ Jones is recovering after a heart transplant, with coach Eli Drinkwitz sharing the news Thursday.
“I have a great update to share on DJ," Drinkwitz wrote on social media. "Last night, DJ received his heart transplant, and his surgery went well.
He is now recovering. We are incredibly grateful for the medical team who cared for DJ and for the donor and donor family whose extraordinary gift made this possible.
"Please continue to keep DJ, his family, the donor family, and his caregivers in your prayers as he begins the recovery process.
We are so thankful for the incredible prayers and support from the entire Mizzou Family. We will continue to update you when we
can."
Jones’ health issue was first identified during Missouri’s standard freshman intake process, when the team’s medical staff found a heart problem. After two weeks without improvement, he was taken to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, where doctors discovered a “much more significant issue.”
A native of Venice, Florida, Jones was the No. 108 overall player in the 247Sports rankings and the top-rated prospect in Missouri’s 2026 recruiting class. He arrived with major expectations after choosing the Tigers over a long list of high-level offers and was projected by some as a future NFL Draft pick.
For now, though, he remains away from the team in Jacksonville while Missouri has surged to a fast start. The No. 14 Tigers knocked off previously unbeaten Florida 45-17 last week, which stands as Drinkwitz’s best win at Missouri.
“It’s just hard, an 18-year-old with everything in front of him, and you're just never prepared for that kind of news," Drinkwitz said. "Our team was not prepared for that news.
We're praying for him, and we hope that Mizzou fans are joining in with us because he needs help in a hurry. We're pulling for you, buddy."
Jones has not appeared in a game this season.
In Other News...
Mizzou Fans Finally Got The Update They Needed On DJ Jones
Missouri fans got the update they had been hoping for on freshman offensive tackle Johnnie DJ Jones, who recently underwent a successful heart transplant and is now recovering. The need for the procedure was discovered during the Tigers freshmen intake, turning what should have been an ordinary start to college football into a deeply personal medical battle for one of the programs newest players.
Jones was treated at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., where the care team and donor family drew gratitude from coach Eli Drinkwitz and the Missouri community. For a team and fan base that had been following the situation closely, the news brings a measure of relief, even as Jones begins the long next stretch of recovery. [Read more 🡒]
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Mizzou Enters Texas A&M Week With A Bigger Availability Concern
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Eli Drinkwitz had already acknowledged after the Florida game that several key Tigers were dealing with injuries, and the report only reinforced that the team is managing more uncertainty than it would like this early in league play. For Missouri, the concern is not just the number of names on the list, but the presence of important pieces whose status will matter as the Tigers try to navigate a tough road week in the SEC. [Read more 🡒]