Wisconsin football lands Iowa State transfer safety Carson Van Dinter
Wisconsin football has landed a transfer portal commitment from former Iowa State safety Carson Van Dinter.
The University of Wisconsin football program made its first transfer portal addition in the secondary this offseason.
Kaukauna native Carson Van Dinter announced his commitment to the Badgers after entering the transfer portal from Iowa State, giving Wisconsin an in-state defensive back with Power Four experience at a time when adding depth in the secondary is very much a priority.
Van Dinter checks in at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, and arrives with three years of eligibility remaining. He spent the past two seasons with the Iowa State Cyclones, playing for head coach Matt Campbell, where Van Dinter steadily improved in a program that’s known for player development.
He redshirted in 2024 after appearing in two games against Baylor and UCF and was also named Iowa State’s Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year, a reflection of how hard Van Dinter works behind the scenes.
In 2025, he took a step forward.
Van Dinter appeared in 11 games, logging 180 defensive snaps while also contributing on special teams. He finished the season with 18 total tackles (11 solo), 0.5 tackles for loss, and one pass deflection. His usage leaned heavily toward lining up in the box and the slot, with occasional snaps at free safety, giving him experience across multiple roles in the secondary.
The production reflected progress, even if the underlying numbers show a player that’s still rounding into form. According to Pro Football Focus, Van Dinter posted a 53.3 overall defensive grade, 54.8 as a run defender, 37.3 as a tackler with a 33.3% missed-tackle rate, and a 53.0 coverage grade.
The former three-star recruit was targeted 20 times in coverage, allowing 14 catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns. The consistency needs to improve, particularly as a tackler, but the foundation for growth is there.
The decision to enter the portal in search of a fresh start came amid staff changes at Iowa State, with Campbell taking the head coaching job at Penn State. For Van Dinter, that departure opened the door to reevaluate his long-term fit and opportunity. Wisconsin made sense on both fronts.
Position coach Jack Cooper and the Badgers will need to retool their safety room after losing both starters from last season, with Preston Zachman entering the transfer portal and Austin Brown exhausting his eligibility. Wisconsin currently returns Matt Jung and a pair of freshmen in Grant Dean and Luke Emmerich, who this coaching staff is high on.
That said, depth and versatility are still needed. Van Dinter brings both, along with special teams value that can translate immediately.
More than anything, this is a homecoming. Van Dinter grew up in Wisconsin, starred at Kaukauna High School, and now returns to the state with Power Four experience and a clearer understanding of what it takes to play at this level. For Wisconsin, it’s a worthwhile addition. For Van Dinter, it’s a chance to build something meaningful where it all started.
We appreciate you taking the time to read our work at BadgerNotes.com. Your support means the world to us and has helped us become a leading independent source for Wisconsin Badgers coverage.
You can also follow Site Publisher Dillon Graff at @DillonGraff on X.