Missouri freshman offensive tackle Johnnie “DJ” Jones has undergone a successful heart transplant and is now recovering, coach Eli Drinkwitz announced Thursday morning on X.
Drinkwitz said the program is grateful for the people who made the operation possible and asked for continued prayers as Jones starts the next phase of his recovery.
“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,” the statement read. “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’ family is also being supported through a fundraising page set up to help with recovery-related costs. The page says the goal is to help ease the burden so the family can stay focused on Jones and his healing.
“We are creating this support system to help ease some of that burden, allowing the Jones family to focus their energy where it belongs - on DJ, his care, his healing, and being together as a family,” the page reads.
It also says donations of any size will help with immediate and ongoing expenses, and that those who can’t give financially can still help by praying and sharing the fundraiser.
“Any contribution, no matter the amount, will help provide support with immediate and ongoing expenses. If you are unable to give financially, we simply ask that you keep DJ and the entire Jones family lifted in prayer and share this fundraiser with others.
Every prayer, kind word, and act of support means more than you may ever know. "DJ is a young man with so much life ahead of him, and he is surrounded by a family and community that loves him deeply.
We are trusting God, taking things one day at a time, and believing with all our hearts for the best possible outcome.”
Jones’ heart issue was first found during the team’s freshmen intake in the summer, and Missouri sent him to Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, for care. Last week, the school learned he would need a transplant. He watched Missouri’s win over Florida from the hospital on Saturday.
On Tuesday, Drinkwitz described how difficult the news was for the team.
"It's just hard. A(n) 18-year-old with everything in front of him, and you're just not prepared for that kind of news," Drinkwitz said Tuesday.
"Our team wasn't prepared for that kind of news, 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. We're pulling for you, buddy."
In Other News...
Missouri Freshman DJ Jones Faces A Far Bigger Fight Than Football
Missouri freshman offensive lineman DJ Jones has spent this season dealing with something far bigger than the normal grind of a college football fall. Jones underwent a heart transplant and is recovering, coach Eli Drinkwitz said, after preseason evaluations uncovered a significant heart problem that sent him to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.
Jones has not played this season and remains away from the team while Missouri continues its games, a reminder that his journey is now measured in medical updates rather than reps or snap counts. For a freshman trying to begin his college career, the focus has shifted entirely to recovery, and the Tigers are left pulling for a much more important comeback than anything on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzous Front Seven Faces A Much Tougher Test This Week
Missouris front seven spent last week making life miserable for Florida on the ground, holding the Gators to 42 rushing yards on 25 carries and limiting running back Jadan Baugh to 13 yards on 12 attempts. Linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez was rewarded for his part in that effort, earning SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week after piling up 11 tackles, a strong sign that the Tigers are getting consistent play from the middle of their defense.
The challenge changes quickly now, with Texas A&M bringing a different kind of problem to the table in quarterback Marcel Reed. Eli Drinkwitz and Missouris players have been stressing sound tackling and clean execution as the week goes on, because the front seven will need to carry over the same urgency against a much more mobile threat and do it without any drop in focus. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Enters Texas A&M Week With A Bigger Availability Concern
Missouris first SEC availability report of the season gave a clearer picture of how banged up the Tigers are heading into the Texas A&M game, and it was not a reassuring one. The leagues new 2024 policy requires both teams to submit injury designations before conference matchups, and Missouris initial list came in much longer than Texas A&Ms, which featured just three players with injury tags.
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 🡒]