He played college football at Georgia, where he was a two-time CFP national champion before being selected by the Eagles in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft.

[1] Nolan was rated as the number one player in the country and 20th best all-time by 247Sports.com and his comparison was Pro Bowl pass rusher Khalil Mack.

[2] As a senior he was named to the USA Today All-USA high school football team and a first-team All-American by MaxPreps.

[8] On October 29, 2022, Smith exited the game against Florida, tearing a pectoral muscle and prematurely ending his season.

[11] Smith ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the 2023 NFL Combine, making him the second-fastest defensive lineman since 2003 after Amaré Barno (2022).

[20] On February 21, 2025, it was revealed that Smith underwent surgery for torn triceps, an injury that he sustained during the Super Bowl.