Career: Two-year starter who earned All-Sun Belt recognition both years while totaling 135 tackles in those 22 games played (all starts) … Suffered a torn Achilles tendon during an April 15, 2021 spring practice but returned less than six months later as a starter for the Sun Belt opener and totaled 58 tackles while starting each of the last 10 games … Appeared in 58 career games … In six seasons in Boone, App State went 62-17 with four Sun Belt titles (2016-19), an additional Sun Belt East Division title (2021) and five bowl wins (2016-20) … With an interest in journalism, has written articles for several publications, has been co-host of the 135 Podcast with teammate Thomas Hennigan, produced video/written content for the UNCUT Boone site and conducted player interviews for App State’s pregame radio show … Gave the December 2020 commencement speech (virtually) for App State’s College of Fine and Applied Arts ... As a redshirt freshman in 2017, named the Dollar General Bowl’s Special Teams MVP after forcing a fumble on a second-quarter kickoff return.
 
2021: All-Sun Belt second team … Started in all 10 of his appearances at strong safety … Suffered a torn Achilles tendon during an April 15, 2021 spring practice but returned less than six months later as a starter for the Sun Belt opener and totaled 58 tackles while starting each of the last 10 games … Caleb Spurlin gave up his captain’s spot for the Georgia State game to let Smith have it while playing close to his hometown … Led App State in tackles in each of the last three games … Closed the regular season with nine tackles against Georgia Southern and had 12 more in the Sun Belt title game against Louisiana … Had 10 tackles in the Boca Raton Bowl.

2020: Third-team All-Sun Belt … Started all 12 games at strong safety … Ranked third on the team with 77 tackles (48 solo) while contributing two interceptions, eight breakups and one tackle for loss … Had three double-digit tackle games and set career highs in each of the final two games, posting 12 tackles at Georgia Southern and then 13 in the Myrtle Beach Bowl win against North Texas … Named the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week by College Sports Madness following a Georgia Southern road win thanks to 12 tackles (10 solo), a fourth-quarter interception and one pass breakup from his run-supporting safety position … Snagged his third career interception on the Eagles' first play of a fourth-quarter drive after the Mountaineers had taken a 31-20 lead, and two of Smith's tackles in the game stopped the Eagles short on third-down tries … Also intercepted a pass in the season-opening win against Charlotte … Recorded 10 tackles at Marshall.

2019: Played in the first 13 games … Made 15 tackles as a safety and one of App State’s biggest special teams contributors … Had a career-high five tackles in the win at North Carolina, where he played safety for a lot of the fourth quarter for a short-handed defense … Had two PBUs (at Georgia State, Troy) … Named first-team CoSIDA Academic All-District with a 3.70 GPA.

2018: Appeared in all 13 games, contributing on special teams and as a safety … Accounted for a solo tackle for loss and his first career interception in the 72-7 win against Gardner-Webb … Had three total tackles on the year (two solo) .... In the 35-9 win at Arkansas State, had a season-high two tackles.

2017: Appeared in 10 games as a reserve safety and special teams player despite missing three early games due to injury … Named the Dollar General Bowl’s Special Teams MVP after forcing a fumble on a second-quarter kickoff return. Austin Exford recovered the ball at the Toledo 14 to set up a field goal for a 20-0 lead … Finished the season with eight tackles (five solo) … Had three stops against Louisiana in the regular season finale.

2016: Redshirted

High School: Rated a two-star prospect by Rivals.com, Scout.com and 247Sports ... Two-time second-team all-region performer ... Honorable mention all-county ... Named Gwinnett County Touchdown Club Player of the Month for Sept. 2015 ... Earned Mountain View scholar-athlete award for 2015-16 ... Coached by Nick Bach ... High school teammate of fellow Appalachian State player Jalen Virgil ... Chose App State over Mercer.

Personal: Full name is Kaiden Darius Smith … Son of Marylisa Dejesus … Graduate in communication/journalism … Hobbies include football and journalism.