Missouri football offensive tackle Johnnie Jones, a true freshman, requires a heart transplant, coach Eliah Drinkwitz announced Tuesday, Oct. 6.
Drinkwitz said the program discovered Jones' heart issues when Jones arrive in Columbia, Missouri, for the first time. After observing the young offensive lineman for two weeks, Missouri
sent Jones to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, for a second opinion.Drinkwitz said Missouri found out last week that Jones had been placed on the heart transplant list after doctors found a 'significant issue.'
“We sent him to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, and discovered a much more significant issue,” Drinkwitz
told reporters. “And then last week we found out that Johnnie's now on a heart transplant list, and he’s in Mayo, and it's tough right now, and our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family as they go through this.”
Drinkwitz shouted out Jones during an in-game interview with ESPN sideline reporter Kris Budden on Saturday, Oct. 3.
“I want to give a shoutout to Johnnie Jones,” Drinkwitz said during Missouri's 45-17 win over Florida. “DJ, we love you, man. We’re praying for ya. We’ll see ya.”
Jones, a four-star prospect in the 2026 recruiting class, was one of Missouri's top signees of the cycle. He was rated as the No. 161 player nationally and No. 16 offensive tackle, per 247Sports' Composite rankings, and chose the Tigers over Colorado, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, UCLA and Florida State, among others.
Drinkwitz asked for Missouri fans to pray for Jones during a tough time for the 18-year-old true freshman.
“I know Johnny was watching our game," Drinkwitz said. "It's just hard, an 18-year-old with everything in front of him, and 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 will hopefully join in that prayer because he does need help in a hurry. We’re pulling for you, buddy.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Missouri freshman Johnnie Jones needs heart transplant, Eliah Drinkwitz announces
