 In 2001 and 2002, he spent the collegiate off season with the West Michigan Edge of the fourth division Premier Development League.Undrafted out of college, Smith played for the Cocoa Expos of the PDL in the summer of 2004, before signing his first professional contract with the Virginia Beach Mariners of the USL First Division.In 2005, he signed with the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer, and although he saw no time with the first team, he played two games with the reserves.