Missing ex-South Carolina quarterback found alive on a kayak in the Florida Gulf after fishing trip goes awry

Former University of South Carolina quarterback Chris Smelley, who was reported missing on Thursday, has been located by the U.S. Coast Guard nearly 12 hours after he was seen leaving to go fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, law enforcement in Florida confirmed. 

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office put out a press release asking for help in locating the 37-year-old former SEC player, who was last seen at around 8:30 a.m. when he went fishing in a kayak in the Gulf of Mexico off Grayton Beach. 

Chris Smelley, #7 of the South Carolina Gamecocks, calls a play against the Georgia Bulldogs during their game at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina, on September 13, 2008.   (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Several local agencies, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife agency were called in to join the search. 

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Nearly 12 hours after he was last seen, authorities confirmed that Smelley had been located safely. 

The U.S. Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans dispatched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, which found Smelley roughly two miles off the coast of Grayton Beach. 

Kourtnei Brown, #90 of the Clemson Tigers, gets pressure on Chris Smelley, #7 of the South Carolina Gamecocks, during the second half at Memorial Stadium on November 29, 2008, in Clemson, South Carolina. The Tigers defeated the Gamecocks 31-14.  (Rex Brown/Getty Images)

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Footage shared by the Coast Guard on X showed the moment rescuers located his lone kayak. He was transferred to a friend’s vessel that had been searching for him in the area, officials said. 

Smelley played three seasons with the South Carolina Gamecocks from 2006-2008. He was 9-6 as the team’s starting quarterback. In his final season, he completed 169 passes for 1,922 yards and 14 touchdowns across 12 games. 

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He later transferred to Alabama in 2009 to play for the Crimson Tide baseball team. 

Chris Smelley, #7 of the South Carolina Gamecocks, throws a pass against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Williams-Brice Stadium on November 8, 2008, in Columbia, South Carolina. South Carolina defeated the Razorbacks 34-21.   (Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

Smelley now serves as the head football coach at Sylacauga High School. 

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