Huskers in the pros: Adam Carriker
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BY KEN HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star
This week's look at former Huskers and their progress in the NFL focuses on Adam Carriker, the starting nose tackle for the St. Louis Rams.
At Nebraska: started 34 games; sixth in school history in sacks; fourth in tackles for loss; on All Big-12 Academic Honor Roll; third-team All-American; two-time first-team All-Big 12; Big 12 defensive lineman of the year.
In the pros: earned starting nose tackle position this summer and being a first-round pick (13th overall). Signed for $12.8 million.
For starters: Carriker picked up a playbook early and was comfortable with the Rams’ defense from the start of mini-camps. He had a three-day honeymoon with wife, Angie, then reported to camp and quickly became one of 35 rookies in the league to earn starting spots. The Rams also count on former Lincoln Northeast and former Nebraska standout Trevor Johnson on the defensive front. Carriker and Johnson have become close friends.
Welcome to the NFL: There was no epiphany from a woozy head or a dizzy moment on the field that told Carriker he was suddenly in the NFL.
“I knew going in that these guys were bigger, faster and stronger than most of the guys I faced in college,” he said. “I prepared as hard as I could and I believe I was ready. There were some times in mini- camp when I got a little lost, but nothing bad.”
The Rams found out Carriker was a great pick when he often tossed center Brett Romberg and former Husker guard Richie Incognito around in practice.
“I learned a lot from our offense and I learned a lot from our defense,” Carriker said. “Richie, well, is Richie. Playing against guys like him gives me confidence to play against the rest of this league.”
Carriker came in with some great references.
Husker defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said Carriker was the best defensive lineman he had ever coached.
The Rams have joined the chorus.
“Adam is a big guy,” Rams veteran Claude Wroten told the St. Louis Post Dispatch. “They have to block him, and if they double-team him, that’s more one-on-ones for me. It will make us better up front.”
Rams coach Scott Linehan added this about Carriker: “He’s really played well.”
Carriker, a native of Kennewick, Wash., said he’s confident he can help the Rams.
“There are so many talented people here and I think this is going to be a very good team,” he said. “They brought me here to help and I’m confident that I will.”
Keeping track of Huskers: Carriker said living in St. Louis means he can get back to Nebraska now and then.
“I saw the opener on TV and I watched Zac Potter really close because he’s the guy in my spot,” he said. “I saw some of those little things he can fix. I saw that in watching films of me. But I’d give him a B for the first time out as a starter.
“The defense, well, Nevada really only scored after a turnover, and I think it gets an A overall,” he said. “They’re going to be fun to watch this year.”
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