Adam Carriker attended Kennewick High School in Kennewick, Washington where he played football and baseball. Adam was a three-time all-conference first baseman on the baseball team. He played quarterback for three years on the football team, serving as team captain each year. As a senior he played quarterback and defensive end. As a senior, he totaled 15 sacks, 5 pass break-ups, and 4 forced fumble. He was named second team all-conference despite not winning a single game as a senior. Adam was recruited by schools such as: Washington State, Oregon, and Oregon State, but he opted to attend the University of Nebraska where he would sit out the 2002 season as a redshirt. He contributed as a pass-rush specialist the following year, finishing with 3 tackles and a sack on the season. He missed three games due to an ankle injury. As a sophomore, Carriker once again injured his ankle. He only missed one game this time, but the injury would bother him most of the season. He finished the year with 36 tackles and 3 sacks, on his way to first team all-big twelve honors. For the first time in his career, Carriker was able to start all 12 games as a junior. He totaled 43 tackles and a conference leading 9 ½ sacks on the season. He was named the team’s defensive MVP at the conclusion of the season.

Adam Carriker has been starting at defensive end for Nebraska over the past three years. He has a great combination of size, strength, and athleticism for a defensive end. He is an intelligent player and a hard worker with a non-stop motor. He already had good size as a junior, but he bulked up and packed on another 15 pounds prior to his senior season. He gets good leverage on his opponents and is very strong at the point of attack. He is a very good run defender who displays good technique and has the ability to chase the ballcarrier down from behind in the backfield. He lacks a quick first step off of the line, but he has good closing speed getting to the quarterback on passing downs. Carriker had problems with ankle injuries his first two seasons at Nebraska, but they haven’t been a problem for him his final two years. Carriker could project at multiple positions in the NFL. He has the size and strength to play defensive tackle, but he is probably too tall for the position. He could play defensive end in either a 3-4 or 4-3 defensive scheme. With the number of teams that have gone to the 3-4 recently, Carriker will most likely find a home at defensive end on a team that employs that scheme. Carriker has been impressive in workouts and should be a mid-first round pick on draft day.