Missouri football star undergoes heart transplant days after teary-eyed coach revealed routine tests found ‘significant’ condition
Missouri offensive lineman Johnnie ‘DJ’ Jones is recovering in hospital after receiving a life-saving heart transplant on Wednesday night.
Jones’ heartbreaking story was thrust into the national consciousness earlier this week when his head coach Eli Drinkwitz revealed his desperate need for a donor in a teary-eyed press conference.
The freshman, 18, arrived on campus in Columbia, Missouri over the summer when a regular check-up identified a ‘much more significant issue’ with his heart.
Now, though, he has undergone successful surgery and Drinkwitz released a further statement on social media to share the good news.
‘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,’ he wrote. ‘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.’
University of Missouri freshman Johnnie Jones has undergone a heart transplant
His condition became headline news when Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz told the media
Jones was a four-star recruit out of high school who chose Mizzou over a host of other schools
Jones, a 6-foot-6, 315-pound lineman, arrived at the school as a top prospect out of Venice High School and ranked 212th on the ESPN 300.
He flipped his commitment to Mizzou from UCLA and was ranked the No 9 offensive tackle in the nation, No 17 prospect in Florida and No 122 recruit in the country by 247Sports Composite.
He also received offers from the likes of Georgia, Ole Miss, Florida and Florida State among others before enrolling at Mizzou.
Despite the heartbreaking situation involving their teammate, the Tigers are 4-1 after beating Florida 45-17 at the weekend and moving up to 14 in the AP Rankings before hosting Texas A&M on Saturday.
Jones’ family, meanwhile, has also set up a fundraising page in a bid to help pay for his medical costs, with the account having already raised over $8,000 as of 11am Thursday ET.
The fundraising goal is $200,000, with the family keen for assistance, noting: ‘Time away from work, hospital bills, household bills, transportation, meals, and other everyday expenses continue even when life is placed on hold.
