Kevin Ray Smith graduated from West Orange–Stark High School in West Orange, Texas. A gifted two-way athlete, Smith recorded 12 interceptions on defense and caught nine touchdown passes as a wide receiver. He was also an accomplished baseball player until his sophomore year, when he was struck in the face by a fastball and shifted his athletic focus entirely to football. Recruited as a wide receiver by both the University of Houston and Louisiana State University, Smith instead chose to attend Texas A&M University, where he played defensive back. From his freshman season onward, Smith developed a reputation as a clutch playmaker and one of the most dynamic defenders in Aggie history.

​

Midway through his senior season, Smith was asked to handle punt-return duties. He immediately made an impact, returning one punt 71 yards for a touchdown against Rice and another 73 yards against Texas. He finished sixth in the nation with a 14.7-yard return average. Smith’s defensive production was just as impressive—he set a Southwest Conference (SWC) record with 20 career interceptions and tied the conference record for career interception return touchdowns (3). He also established Texas A&M career marks for interception return yards (289) and passes defended (32). Smith was a three-time All-SWC selection, a consensus All-American in 1991, and a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s best defensive back. He started 38 consecutive games, missing only one during his entire college career. During his time at A&M, the Aggies appeared in three bowl games and captured the 1991 SWC championship.

​

Smith was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round (17th overall) of the 1992 NFL Draft. He quickly proved himself at the professional level, breaking into the starting lineup after just 10 games. That same season, at only 21 years old, Smith became the youngest player on the Cowboys roster and a starter in Super Bowl XXVII, where Dallas defeated the Buffalo Bills 52–17. As a rookie, he tallied 36 tackles, seven passes defended, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in just nine starts (including the playoffs). In the NFC Championship Game, he registered a career-high eight tackles and returned a fumble 11 yards, solidifying his place as a cornerstone of the Cowboys’ defense.

​

Smith went on to play nine seasons (1992–2000) in the NFL, all with the Cowboys. He was part of three Super Bowl–winning teams (XXVII, XXVIII, and XXX) and was widely regarded as one of the most physical and technically sound cornerbacks of his era. His best statistical season came in 1996, when he recorded six interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. Known for his ability to shut down top receivers, Smith finished his career with 19 interceptions, three defensive touchdowns, and over 300 total tackles.

​

After suffering a knee injury during training camp, Smith retired from football in 2000. Following his playing career, he pursued business ventures and broadcasting while remaining active in community outreach in Southeast Texas. Smith was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame and the Museum of the Gulf Coast Sports Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy as one of the most accomplished defensive backs ever to come out of the region.