Eli Drinkwitz shared a message on Thursday updating the status of a Missouri Tigers offensive tackle, freshman DJ Jones, who received a heart transplant late Wednesday night.
An issue with Jones’ heart came to light over the summer, and the Bradenton, Florida, native was placed on a heart transplant list not long after, according to a report by ESPN’s Alex Scarborough. Drinkwitz briefly discussed the matter and its urgency at a press conference last week.
“Please continue to keep DJ, his family, the donor family, and his caregivers in your prayers as he begins the recovery process,” Drinkwitz said in his statement.
Coming to Missouri from Florida, Jones was one of the country’s top offensive line recruits in the 2026 class and a consensus four-star prospect by all major recruiting outlets. Individually, Jones was ranked as high as No. 13 in Florida by 247Sports; He’d turn down multiple in-state offers, including Florida and Florida State, to play in Columbia.
