GRAYTON BEACH, Fla. — Chris Smelley, a former quarterback for the University of South Carolina, was reported missing after kayaking in Florida Thursday, law enforcement authorities announced Thursday.
Smelley went fishing in a blue and black kayak around 8:30 a.m. in the Gulf of Mexico, the Walton County Sheriff's Office said. He was last seen near Grayton Beach, which is located between Pensacola and Panama City on Florida's Gulf Coast.
The Walton County Sheriff's Office said Smelley was found safe around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday by the United States Coast Guard.
Smelley, who is now 37, is listed as the head coach at Sylacauga High School in Alabama and a former quarterback for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks.
He later posted his gratitude on X, thanking people who offered support and prayers.
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