Film Room: Is Carson Van Dinter Wisconsin football's highest upside safety?
Wisconsin football may have found a sleeper in its defensive backfield with intriguing traits, speed, and a path to a complementary role.
Of the myriad of transfer portal additions Wisconsin football made this offseason, former Iowa State safety Carson Van Dinter didn’t get much love.
Maybe it’s because the Badgers also signed a two-year SEC starter at safety in former Missouri Tiger Marvin Burks Jr. Maybe it’s because Van Dinter only played 180 defensive snaps last season during his redshirt freshman year at Iowa State, finishing with 18 total tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, and one pass deflection.
Regardless, the Kaukauna, Wisconsin, native shouldn’t be an afterthought on this team. He may not be positioned for a starting role, but he’s only one injury away. What’s more, head coach Luke Fickell has alluded to the possibility of more exotic looks on defense this fall with three-safety and three-inside linebacker formations.
You’ll see Van Dinter on the field in some capacity this season. And after diving into his All-22 film, there’s a lot to like about his game. Below, BadgerNotes breaks down the tape:
It’s easy to tell what Van Dinter’s (#36) calling card is as soon as you pop on the tape: speed.
Above, Van Dinter is playing field safety, and in case you missed him, he’s the one who flies across the field and makes the tackle.
There’s a lot to like about this rep. Kansas State is trying to set up a perimeter run, but the Cyclones’ defense is very sound in its gap discipline. Just when the back appears to have daylight and turns the corner, Van Dinter flies in to make the stop.
You love the safety’s closing speed and ability to diagnose this play, but the hit he lays down on the tailback is nothing to scoff at either.
“He does like to hit, there’s no doubt about it,” defensive coordinator Mike Tressel said of Van Dinter during spring practice.
Van Dinter’s speed goes hand in hand with his instincts. He’s still learning the intricacies of playing defense — we’ll get there soon — but lots of young players struggle with playing fast and free as their minds overflow with information.
That’s not something you see out of Van Dinter; there are very few wasted steps when he attacks the football:
Even though he’s not the one who winds up making the tackle, Van Dinter blows up this reverse. As soon as Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson pitches the ball to the receiver, he explodes out of his stance and is the first one in the backfield.
This rep is also a great representation of where Van Dinter is in his development. His natural ability allows him to fly into the backfield, but he’s not yet a complete player; Wildcats wideout Jace Brown gives him a nice dead-leg and manages to break the tackle.
However, that’s not to say Van Dinter was a liability as a tackler; in fact, that was one of his stronger traits on tape:
