Smith attended Mission Bay High School. As a junior, he received All-league honors. As a senior defensive end, he tallied 90 tackles, 10 sacks, 2 interceptions, 5 forced fumbles and returned a fumble 96 yards for a touchdown (CIF-San Diego record). He received All-league, All-San Diego area, San Diego Union Tribune All-county, Prep Football Report All-West and SuperPrep All-Farwest honors. He made the San Diego Union Tribune All-academic team for 3 years.
In basketball, he received All-league honors as a junior. He averaged 17 points and 16 rebounds per game as a senior. He also practiced baseball.
College career
Smith accepted a football scholarship from the University of Arizona. As a true freshman, he appeared in 9 games, making 16 tackles (3.5 for loss), 1.5 sacks and one pass defensed.
As a sophomore, he started 6 out of 12 games at defensive end, collecting 40 tackles (6 for loss), 4 sacks and one fumble recovery. As a junior, he started 11 games, registering 41 tackles (3.5 for loss), 1.5 sacks, 8 passes defensed and one fumble recovery.
As a senior, he suffered a leg injury in the second game and received a medical hardship, while recording 7 tackles and one fumble recovery. As a fifth year senior in 2006, he posted 16 tackles (3 for loss), 3 sacks, 9 passes defensed and 3 fumble recoveries. He finished his college career with 120 tackles (16 for loss) and 10 sacks.