Grey Zabel NFL Draft 2025: Scouting Report for North Dakota State Iol

HEIGHT: 6'6"

WEIGHT: 301

HAND: 9½"

ARM: 32"

WINGSPAN: 77½"

40-YARD DASH: NA

3-CONE: NA

SHUTTLE: NA

VERTICAL: 36.5"

BROAD: 9'3"

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POSITIVES

— Shows impressive lower half mobility and pad level, especially for a player listed at 6'6"

— Does a nice job stepping on the toes of defenders, working his hips through contact and getting them turned away from the ball on angle-drive and base blocks

— Excels securing and climbing off combination blocks before working inside-out on backers to widen them out of the hole

— Has a firm, stiff punch to create lift on rushers, quickly transition into his anchor and cede minimal ground

— Fluidly redirects and moves laterally to get rushers, loopers and blitzes squared up

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NEGATIVES

— Below average arm length leaves him susceptible to losing first meaningful contact and getting caught on his heels against speed to power

— Struggles to consistently protect his outside edge at tackle, creating short corners against high-side chops and swipes

— Will get stacked, raised and slipped on down blocks

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NOTES

— Born March 30, 2002

— Unranked recruit from the 2020 class, per 247Sports

— Two-way starter on three state championship winning teams in South Dakota. Also lettered in basketball and baseball

— Turned down lucrative NIL offers to transfer schools for the opportunity to play with his younger brother during the 2024 season

— 2024: AP First-team FCS All-American and FCS Champion

— 38 career starts at left tackle (16), left guard (four), right tackle (17) and as a sixth OL (one)

— Participated in the 2025 Senior Bowl where he won overall practice player of the week

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OVERALL

Grey Zabel is a two-and-a-half-year starter including 16 starts at left tackle during the 2024 season inside North Dakota's run-heavy (64-36 run-pass split), multiple-run scheme. Zabel has a well-proportioned build with good athletic ability and play strength.

Zabel excels as a run blocker using very good pad level and leverage to work inside/underneath his target on angle-drive and base blocks, working to step on the toes of the defender, work his hips through and seal off rush lanes behind his back. Once he gets defenders lifted he shows a firm understanding of how to create displacement away from the ball and he strains hard late in the rep to create knockdowns. Zabel can get stacked and lifted himself if he loses the initial leverage battle and will struggle to regain control quickly enough to save the block due to a narrow base and being a little light in the pants.

In pass protection Zabel has smooth, calculated footwork to square up rushers with good strike timing and placement to create lift and quickly transition into his anchor to grind down the bull-rush. He will struggle to consistently protect the corner and prevent his outside hand from getting pinned against high-side rushes that suggest a move inside will be necessary as a pro.

Overall, Zabel shows starter-level physical tools with refined run blocking skills and understanding of leverage that signal he can become an immediate role player and potential starter within his first year or two with center likely being his best fit.

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GRADE: 7.7 (Potential Impact Player — 2nd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 38

POSITION RANK: IOL4

PRO COMPARISON: Mitch Morse

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn

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Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.