Smith first attended Mulberry High School in Mulberry, Florida, where he played football and track and field. In 2018, Smith set the farthest long jump in the country, jumping 25–03.25.[2] While playing for Mulberry, Smith played running back, quarterback, wide receiver, and defensive back for the football team.[3] Before his senior year of high school, Smith transferred to Lakeland High School in Lakeland, Florida, continuing to play football and track and field.[4] Smith primarily played wide receiver for Lakeland and was selected to participate in the 2020 Under Armour All-American game.[5] Ranked as a four-star recruit by ESPN, Smith received offers from many colleges,[6] ultimately committing to play college football for the University of Georgia over Alabama.[7]
College career
Track and field
Smith initially continued to play both football and track and field for Georgia. In 2021, Arian was named a first-team All-American for track and field, also qualifying for the SEC Championship for his time in the 100-meter dash.[8] In 2023, Smith announced he would continue solely on his football career and no longer compete in track and field.[9][10]
American football
Smith redshirted his freshman year and played in the last four games of the 2020 season. His first catch was a 31-yard touchdown against South Carolina.[11] The following year, Smith only played in four of fifteen games this season due to various injuries.[12][13][14] He caught a 35-yard pass against Missouri and a 67-yard pass against UAB, both for touchdowns.[15] In 2022, Smith again missed time due to injuries, missing the season's first four games recovering from surgery for a high ankle sprain received in practice.[16] In the Peach Bowl, Smith had a season-high 129 receiving yards in the game, including a career-long 76-yard catch for a touchdown in a win against Ohio State.[17] Smith played in all fourteen games the following season, scoring a touchdown against UAB and one against Florida State in the 2023 Orange Bowl. Using a granted extra year of eligibility, Smith returned to play for Georgia in 2024.[18][19] In week 2, Smith caught a 50-yard pass for a touchdown against Tennessee Tech.[20] In week five, Smith had 132 yards and a touchdown in a loss against Alabama.[21] In week 7, Smith had a career-high 134 yards, including a 55 yard touchdown, in a win against Mississippi State.[22]