S. Coast Guard after nearly 12 hours of searching. Law enforcement in Florida confirmed that Smelley was found safe and sound.

The search for Smelley began after the Walton County Sheriff's Office issued a press release, seeking assistance in locating the 37-year-old former SEC player. He was last seen at approximately 8:30 a.m. when he went fishing in a kayak in the Gulf of Mexico near Grayton Beach.

Several local agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard and the Florida Fish and Wildlife agency, were involved in the search effort. Nearly 12 hours later, it was confirmed that Smelley had been found. The U.S. Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans dispatched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, which successfully located Smelley approximately two miles off the coast of Grayton Beach.

Footage shared by the Coast Guard showed the moment when rescuers located Smelley's kayak, which was found without him. He was then transferred to a friend's vessel that had been assisting in the search.

Smelley, who played three seasons with the South Carolina Gamecocks from 2006 to 2008, had a successful career as the team's starting quarterback. During his final season, he completed 169 passes for 1,922 yards and 14 touchdowns across 12 games.

Currently, Smelley serves as the head football coach at Sylacauga High School. The incident has certainly caused concern among his supporters and the football community, but they can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Smelley has been found safe.

The exact details of how Smelley got separated from his kayak and the circumstances surrounding the incident remain unknown. Nonetheless, the swift response from law enforcement and the diligent search effort helped ensure a positive outcome in this distressing situation.