Carver attended Lincoln High School, where he played football and basketball, receiving All-state honors as a senior in both sports. As a senior, he tallied 33 tackles, 5 sacks and 20 receptions for 452 yards. In basketball, he posted 21 and 24 rebounds in consecutive games. The Stockton Record named him its Male Athlete of the year and he also received the California Grid-Hoops player of the year award.
College career
Carver accepted a football scholarship from Arizona State University. As a redshirt freshman, he was named a starter at defensive end and became one of the best pass rushers in the nation. He registered 48 tackles, 10 sacks, 14 quarterback pressures and 4 passes defensed. As a sophomore, he was dismissed from the school, for academic reasons, and he lost His mother to a terrible car crash as-well as his grandmother all in a couple of months. Carver overcame all the setbacks and personal loss and was later admitted back into Arizona State University as a student athlete. He collected 39 tackles, 11 sacks, 20 quarterback pressures and 6 passes defensed. As a junior, he tallied 59 tackles, 10 sacks, 27 quarterback pressures, 2 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Carver had a dominant senior season in which the defensive unit was nicknamed "Shante's Inferno". He led the team in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks and quarterback pressures. He also had 4 passes defensed and 3 fumble recoveries. He was a four-year starter, that recorded double-figure sacks in each of his collegiate seasons, had 20-or-more quarterback pressures and was named the team defensive MVP, in all but his freshman year. He was a two-time All-American and All-Pac-10 and a finalist for the Outland Trophy. His athletic ability also allowed him to walk-on to the basketball team during the 1992-93 season, playing in 9 contests, while averaging 0.4 points and 0.8 rebounds per game. Carver finished his college career with 225 tackles, 41 sacks, 86 quarterback pressures, 57 tackles for loss, 16 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries and 5 blocked kicks. Most of his school records were broken by Terrell Suggs in 2002. In 2012, he was inducted into the Arizona State University Sports Hall of Fame.
Looking for a successor to replace Charles Haley and Tony Tolbert in the 1994 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys tried to trade up to acquire Willie McGinest. After being unable to make the transaction, they traded their first and second-round selections to the San Francisco 49ers, in exchange for a first and a seventh round draft choice, in order to move up and take Carver in the first round. As a rookie, he played in 10 games because of injuries, finishing with 5 tackles. He also made news after suffering an automobile accident, abandoning his truck and reporting it as stolen. In 1995, he did not have a good regular season, making 21 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 3 quarterback pressures and one pass defensed. While Haley was injured, he started the season finale and 2 playoff games. He also contributed as a backup in Super Bowl XXX, with a then career-high 5 tackles. In 1996, the Cowboys drafted Kavika Pittman to have a replacement ready in case his lack of production continued. Carver was suspended six games for repeated violations of the league's anti-drug policy. He started the final 7 games of the regular season and both playoff contests in place of an injured Haley, while registering 33 tackles, 3 sacks, 8 quarterback pressures, one pass defensed and one forced fumble. In 1997, he finished with 47 tackles 6 sacks, 9 quarterback pressures, 3 tackles for loss and 3 passes defensed. The Cowboys did not re-sign him at the end of the season, finishing his career with 26 starts in four seasons, 11.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.
In 2001, he was selected by the Memphis Maniax in the 23rd round of the XFL Draft, for the league's lone season. After recording 32 tackles 4 sacks and 1 interception, he was recognized as one of the best defensive players and was named to the All-XFL team. He also is remembered for delivering a particularly spectacular sack on Orlando Rage quarterback Jeff Brohm.
Dallas Desperados (AFL)
On November 26, 2001, Carver signed with the Dallas Desperados who were owned by Jerry Jones, after the XFL folded. He earned AFL All-Rookie honors after registering 16 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 2 interceptions. He played for the team three years, retiring at the end of the 2004 season.
