Smart was raised in Bainbridge, Georgia, after being born in Montgomery, Alabama. [3] His father coached football at the high school level. [4] After starting his playing career at Bainbridge High School, Smart attended the University of Georgia to play collegiate football.
There, he was a teammate of linebacker Brandon Tolbert, defensive linemen Antonio Cochran and Emarlos Leroy, cornerback Champ Bailey, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward. [5] Smart was a four-year letterman for Georgia at defensive back and was chosen as a senior for the first team of the SEC. (6) [7] He led the Bulldogs with six interceptions in 1997 and five in 1998, and he concluded his career with 13 interceptions, which ranked fourth all-time at Georgia.
(8) (7) In addition, he was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll four times. [10] Smart earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the Terry College of Business in 1998. He went undrafted in the 1999 NFL Draft and signed a free-agent contract with the Indianapolis Colts.[7] He spent the 1999 preseason with the team but was cut before the start of the regular season.[11] In 2003, Kirby attended Florida State University for graduate school.[12]
