He played college football for the USC Trojans, where he won the Jim Thorpe Award.
As a junior in 1989, Carrier was named to the Playboy All-American team and became USC's first winner of the Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation's best defensive back.
A two-time consensus first-team All-American, Carrier had seven interceptions in 1989, plus 107 tackles, three fumble recoveries and ten pass deflections.
A three-year starter for the Trojans, Carrier finished his collegiate career with thirteen interceptions.
Since 2016 Carrier has worked for Sports USA Radio Network as a color analyst for NFL and college football.