Missouri Freshman Offensive Lineman Undergoes Heart Transplant

Johnnie “DJ” Jones, a freshman offensive lineman for the Missouri Tigers, is on the mend after having a heart transplant, as announced by head coach Eli Drinkwitz on Thursday.

In a recent social media update, Drinkwitz shared good news about Jones’ surgery, stating that it went smoothly and that the young athlete is recovering well.

“We are very thankful for the medical team that took care of DJ, as well as for the extraordinary generosity of the donor and their family,” the seventh-year head coach expressed.

HEALTHY ATHLETE HAD NO SYMPTOMS BEFORE MANDATORY HEART SCREENING REVEALED HIDDEN DEFECT

Jones had been at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, waiting for the transplant, as noted by Drinkwitz during a news conference earlier this week. The coaching staff had initially picked up on a heart issue during summer intake tests.

After two weeks of observing the situation without clear answers, the medical staff decided to seek a second opinion from the Mayo Clinic.

Doctors there discovered a much more serious condition than initially thought, leading to the recommendation for a heart transplant, as reported by Drinkwitz last week.

The 18-year-old Jones is a Venice High School graduate from Florida’s Gulf Coast and had joined Missouri as a four-star recruit. Currently, the Tigers stand at 4-1 going into Week 6 of the college football season and are scheduled to host a game in Columbia this Saturday.