Kaukauna native Carson Van Dinter commits to Wisconsin football
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MADISON – For the past month, Wisconsin football players have been heading for the exits, announcing their plans to transfer out of the program.
On Jan. 3, one day after the transfer portal opened, the Badgers added the first player of what is expected to be a flurry of additions. And it’s a homecoming.
Carson Van Dinter was a three-sport standout at Kaukauna High School before joining Iowa State in 2024. Saturday, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound safety announced his commitment to Wisconsin.
Van Dinter, who was a redshirt as a true freshman, has three years of eligibility remaining. He gives the Badgers another option at safety where they’re trying to replace Austin Brown (completed eligibility), Preston Zachman (transfer) and Matt Traynor (ACL injury).
The only healthy player with significant experience playing either safety spot is rising senior Matt Jung. He started the final nine games after Zachman suffered what proved to be a season-ending injury to his lower left leg against Alabama on Sept. 13.
The Badgers are also expected to return Neenah native Grant Dean, a rising sophomore who cracked the two-deep late in the season. Most of the Badgers’ safety room is filled with underclassmen who haven’t received a lot of snaps on defense.
Van Dinter made one start for Iowa State in 2025 and, according to Pro Football Focus, played 180 snaps on defense. He finished the season with 18 tackles, 11 solos, and broke up a pass. His greatest playing time came late the season against TCU on Nov. 8 and Kansas on Nov. 22. when he played 44 snaps in each contest.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Kaukauna native Carson Van Dinter commits to Wisconsin football
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