Former SEC quarterback Chris Smelley found after going missing

James Parks | Mar 29, 2024

Sept 22, 2007; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Chris Smelley (7) / John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Former South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback and current high school football coach Chris Smelley has been found safe and sound after he went missing while in a kayak off the Gulf Coast of Florida, authorities have confirmed.

Smelley, 37, went fishing in his kayak off Grayton Beach, Fla., around 8:30 a.m. on Thursday morning and had not returned to the shore by 2:30 p.m., according to the Walton Co. (Fla.) Sheriff.

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter from New Orleans spotted Smelley in his kayak on the water and radioed a friend who was on a boat searching for Smelley, and led him to his location.

Smelley was found at 7:12 p.m., almost 11 hours after he disappeared, about 12 miles off Grayton Beach.

He showed no signs of distress upon being rescued and he was not taken to EMS, the Coast Guard announced. Authorities did not fear Smelley had any medical conditions related to the incident.

Smelley was an all-state quarterback at American Christian in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and holds state records with 59 touchdown passes during the 2005 season.

He ranks second with 134 career touchdown passes in high school and threw for 4,120 yards during his senior campaign.

He signed with South Carolina to play football, serving as Gamecocks quarterback under head coach Steve Spurrier from 2006 to 2008, going 9-6 in 15 career starts.

Smelley passed for 3,210 yards with 23 touchdowns and 22 interceptions at South Carolina.

He joined Alabama as a baseball player in 2009, and after foregoing his senior season, joined Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa as an assistant coach.

Smelley became offensive coordinator at ACA, his high school alma mater, before being promoted to head coach in 2014.

Smelley went 65-21 as head coach there before working as quarterbacks coach at Hoover and from there, took the head coaching position at Sylacauga High.

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