Former South Carolina Quarterback Chris Smelley Found Safe After He Went Missing In The Gulf Of Mexico

WALTON COUNTY, FL. – Former South Carolina quarterback Chris Smelley was found safe Thursday night after he was last seen kayaking in the Gulf of Mexico off Grayton Beach.

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on X that Smelley was found by the United States Coast Guard.

Officials said Smelley, 37, went fishing in his blue and black kayak around 8:30 a.m. on Thursday morning and hadn’t returned.

The sheriff’s office and the South Walton Fire District were using jet skies to search for Smelley near Grayton Beach. The U.S. Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildfire assisted in the search.

Smelley played quarterback at South Carolina from 2006-2008. He led the Gamecocks to a bowl game in his sophomore season. After his football career, he transferred to Alabama to play baseball as a catcher.