2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: North Dakota State C Grey Zabel

From now until the 2025 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top 10 picks, down to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on North Dakota State center Grey Zabel.

#74 Grey Zabel/C North Dakota State – 6053, 316 pounds (Fifth-Year Senior)

Measurements

The Good

– Great athletic ability
– Quick feet
– Explosive out of stance
– Good play strength
– Powerful downhill drive
– Moves defenders out of gap with great drive
– Athletic ability serves him well when reach blocking
– Great run-blocking technique
– Smart player who understands stunts
– Gets to the second level efficiently
– Strong hand-fighting ability, fights to get his hands inside
– Good recovery
– Great balance
– Strong grip strength
– Good body positioning in gap runs
– Blocks well in space
– Great finishing ability
– Controls skill rushers with good hand fighting

The Bad

– Short arms will not allow him to play tackle
– Allows rushers to make the first move with short arms
– Needs to focus on attacking with hands first
– Can get bull rushed by an explosive rusher
– Needs to sink his stance to improve anchor
– Needs to fit initial hands inside; they can appear outside pads and defenders rip through them

Bio

– Started 38 games across five seasons at North Dakota State, appearing at left tackle, left guard, and right tackle
– Returned to NDSU for his fifth year of eligibility
– 2024: 1 sack 2 QB hits, and 4 QB hurries allowed in 453 pass-block snaps, finishing with a 93% overall grade
– Helped lead his team to an FCS national championship
– Unanimous FCS first-team All-American selection
– 2x FCS offensive lineman of the week
– 2023: 2 sacks, 2 QB hits, and 5 QB hurries in 411 pass-block snaps
– Blocked for an offense that produced 237.