Missouri football freshman Johnnie Jones has received a heart transplant. Coach Eli Drinkwitz announced the successful surgery on Thursday.

Jones underwent the operation on Wednesday, and Drinkwitz said it went well. The 18-year-old offensive tackle had been on the transplant list after doctors found a significant heart issue.

The problem was discovered when Jones arrived on campus and went through medical testing. He spent two weeks under observation in Columbia, Missouri. He was then sent to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, for a second opinion.

Jones was one of the top recruits in Missouri’s 2026 class. The 6-foot-6, 315-pound lineman was ranked 161st nationally by 247Sports.

Drinkwitz thanked the medical team and the donor family. He called their gift extraordinary. He asked fans to keep Jones, his family, and the donor family in their prayers as recovery begins. Missouri improved to 4-1 with a 45-17 win over Florida last Saturday. Drinkwitz shouted out Jones during the game. The team will continue to update fans on his recovery.