 Vandenberg committed to the University of Iowa on December 7, 2007.Vandenberg also had scholarship offers from the University of Nebraska, Northern Illinois University, and University of Northern Iowa.After a year as a redshirt freshman, Vandenberg made his first career start for the Hawkeyes on November 14, 2009 against the Ohio State Buckeyes, stepping in for Ricky Stanzi who suffered a season-ending ankle injury the week before.