He appeared as a tackle in one game for the Canton Bulldogs of the Ohio League, becoming one of the first African-Americans to play professional football.

During that game he made a game-saving fumble recovery that preserved a 6–0 Canton victory over the Tigers for the "state championship."

[7] His 97 wins were the most in school history at that time, and currently rank second only behind Joe Taylor, who concluded his 16th season at Hampton in 2007 with 136 victories.

Smith's teams are featured 10 times out of the top 12 on the list for fewest points allowed in a season.

[8] Smith died on May 6, 1968, at Veterans Administration Hospital in Salem, Virginia, following a long illness.