FOR GREY ZABEL, IT’S ABOUT FAMILY, FOOTBALL AND FARMING
BY JEFF KOLPACK
The Forum FARGO
The financial offers from major football schools to entice Grey Zabel to leave North Dakota State were high, like expensive enough to make for a stressful decision for the Bison offensive tackle. Back at the family farm near Mound City, South Dakota, population 70, Mark Zabel, his father, called it nerve wracking on both Grey and the family.
Reports had it over six figures. But in going against the grain of the modern world of college ball, Grey Zabel said no to money and yes to family. In 2024, in a refreshing example, it’s not all about NIL and the best collective offer out there, after all.
“Our family is very important to us and that was a big factor in Grey’s decision,” Mark said. “He loves his relationship with the football program up there and everyone involved. He just said, dad, my friends and family are more important than money to me right now.”
With his family, it’s his younger brother Jett, a freshman tight end at NDSU. With family, they’re close enough from the north central part of the state, not far from the North Dakota border, to easily drive to every home game. And don’t forget the importance of farming in Grey’s life.
Zabel carries a major in agriculture with minors in economics and agribusiness, the latter of which concentrates
North Dakota State left tackle shed big-money offers to remain with Bison teammates
on relating technology to the field. It’s a lot of bookwork and the feedback from at least two of his professors equals that of the Bison coaching staff: a great student.
“He is humble and friendly to everyone,” said Cheryl Wachenheim, interim chair for agribusiness and applied economics.
“He reminds me of my son who we affectionately call the gentle giant. Sometimes in conversation with Grey, it is hard to imagine the power and drive with which he plays football. Talking to him about football, it is always about his team.”
Wachenheim taught Zabel in two classes: agrisales and agricultural finance. She saw his interest in operating his own farm, which he is doing on a part-time basis by renting land near his family farm and growing corn. He found it through contacts and building relationships in the business and is making it work.
Bill Wilson, a university distinguished professor, was impressed with Zabel’s performance in his commodity trading class. Back home, Mark is impressed with the ambition of it all.
“Football and farming are two things Grey is very passionate about,” he said. “And I’m fortunate. It’s two things I’m passionate about and love to follow both. It’s a great connection, we’re very close and we probably talk every day.”
Said Grey: “Just kind of juggling that with playing college football and trying to farm on the side has been a wild ride. But I love it so far
so just continuing for it to be a part of my future is going to be a challenge but I’m excited for it.”
That makes for another factor in declining the NIL offers for Grey. He could have taken some of that and made a major investment in his own operation.
“I was proud of him because, man, I don’t know if I could have made that decision at the time at some of the dollar amounts that were being thrown around,” Mark said. “It would have been a heck of a start to his farming career for sure.”
Plus, Grey gets to spend a season playing with Jett, a highly-touted recruit out of the Zabel’s T.F. Riggs High School in Pierre. Jett had 58 receptions last year for almost 1,000 yards to lead the Governors to their
seventh straight state championship, a run that started with Grey’s high school career.
“You can’t put a price tag on the relationships you make in this game,” Grey said, “and the relationships with these players and coaches that are going to last a lifetime.”
The future, certainly, includes a shot at the NFL. He’s on the “watch list” for the 2025 Senior Bowl along with quarterback Cam Miller slated for Feb. 1 in Mobile, Alabama. It’s a path at NDSU that has a certified blueprint on how to get to the next level.
The Bison have five offensive linemen currently on NFL rosters. Of those, two grew up on either a farm or small town in North Dakota in Tampa Bay offensive guard Cody Mauch from
Hankinson and Cincinnati offensive guard Cordell Volson from Balfour.
New York Giants offensive guard Jake Kubas is from Dickinson Trinity, Seattle center Jalen Sundell is from Maryville, Missouri, and Tennessee offensive tackle Dillon Radunz hails from smaller-town Becker, Minnesota.
It’s a background that fits Bison starting right tackle Mason Miller, who is from Ada, Minnesota.
“I think Grey is one of the hardest workers that you’ll ever find,” Miller said. “He’s the first one in here and the last one out. He’s always pushing himself. It’s the hardwork thing. I think it means more to smalltown guys.”
Zabel is playing his first year as the starting left tackle, making the move from the other side where he played in 2023. He’s played inside at guard, also, a versatile role that most of the Bison linemen in the NFL did.
“The best ability is availability,” Zabel said. He admits to a few thoughts in watching other college games what it would have been like to play elsewhere.
“But in the grand scheme of things, I’m really happy that I chose to stay here,” Zabel said.
“I just kind of thought that there’s some unfinished business here at North Dakota State. We haven’t won the last game of the season in three years and wanted to come back and have the opportunity to play with some lifelong friends that I’ve made.”
Another piece of
unfinished business may include a blowout loss at the University of North Dakota last season, a game the Bison were never in and lost 49-24. Zabel and the rest of the offensive line get another shot on Saturday when NDSU hosts UND at 2:30 p.m. at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.
Zabel started against the Fighting Hawks as a true freshman in the COVID-delayed spring 2021 season.
“The awkward spring season, guys leaving and some injuries, got put into a role right away,” he said. “It taught me a lot. I gained a lot of experience from that spring but it was definitely unique for sure.”
He was a backup playing in 11 of 15 games in the fall of 2021, made seven starts the following season before assuming full-time starting duties last year. Then came the unique position of getting recruited to put his name into the transfer portal. Perhaps words from former Bison head coach Matt Entz helped in the decision.
“He said you can go anywhere you want to from North Dakota State,” Zabel said. “If that’s the next level playing football or if that’s a job somewhere. You can do everything you want to from there. That kind of played a role in me staying and being able to lean on the guys that came before me, ask them questions and pick their brains.”
Readers can reach Forum reporter Jeff Kolpack at jkolpack@forumcomm.com.
David Samson / The Forum
North Dakota State tackle Grey Zabel congratulates teammate Cam Miller on a touchdown at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado, on Aug. 29.
David Samson / The Forum
North Dakota State tackle Grey Zabel takes on Colorado’s BJ Green at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado, on Aug. 29.
Darius Givance • FS
Moorhead was the only returning starter on the offensive line, an important leadership role in UND's 4-1 start
Home Turf. Home Team.
North Dakota State head coach says players graduating earlier, team needs play big factors
BY JEFF KOLPACK
The Forum
FARGO — It’s a ques-
tion that’s often asked during August practice of a North Dakota State head football coach: Do you see any redshirts being pulled from true freshmen? Who is the best candidate to play right away?
This week, Tim Polasek revealed that the new world of college football will be part of that answer moving forward. It doesn’t matter anymore.
“I don’t care about the redshirt, period,” he said. “I really don’t, meaning that I always want to protect kids in the recruiting process as far as this side or the other, but in today’s day and age, we’re going to play the guys that can help us.”
It’s more than football, Polasek said. In education, players often come out of high school with college credits and graduate in four years.
Receiver Jackson Williams has already had his redshirt pulled. Last week in the 42-10 win at Illinois State, three true freshmen played: cornerback Will Washington, running back Peder Haugo and linebacker Donovan Woolen.
Woolen has played in three games and has just one more to stay within the NCAA’s four-game eligibility rule, which allows a player to play in
four regular season games without burning the redshirt. Playoffs do not count toward that stipulation. Haugo and Washington have played in two games and safety Taylen Eady and wide receiver Jacob Kilzer (a former quarterback) one each.
“If they can help us, they have to get ready to go,” Polasek said. Washington, from Apple Valley, Minnesota, is the latest to make an entrance.
“I can tell you by the way he practices and his approach, he’s up there with some of the really good players that have played here,” Polasek said. “I really like him. We’ll continue to evaluate a couple different spots because special teams with some of these injuries is also getting a little thin.”
FB Werremeyer making his presence Bison fullback Truman Werremeyer continued to assert himself into the offense last week getting his first two receptions of the season last week at Illinois State. One went for 13 yards on the first play of the third quarter and helped jumpstart a Bison onslaught. That drive ended with a 40-yard touchdown pass from Cam Miller to running back Barika Kpeenu and the Bison led 21-7. It was 35-7 by the time the quarter ended.
Polasek was asked if the 6-foot-2, 246 pound
Werremeyer, from Fargo Davis, is the prototypical Bison fullback. Polasek immediately referenced former NDSU players Lee Vandal and Andrew Grothmann, who like Werremeyer were North Dakota-bred players.
“We’re just not running that many plays anymore where we’re breaking equipment,” he said. “Lee Vandal was getting constant stingers. He laid it on the line. When I think of a true hammerhead fullback, no, Truman provides more than that. He’s a better cut-out blocker and he can give you something as far as a better pass receiver.”
Polasek brought up another name from the pass for a multiple-use fullback: Andrew Bonnet, who was also part tight end.
“Grothmann and Vandal mean so much to me, that’s kind of what I think when I think about fullbacks,” he said. “But those guys are all tough and physical in that room.”
Around the Valley
After the first week of Missouri Valley Football Conference league play, a separation is already apparently in the works. And that’s without South Dakota State playing a conference game yet.
NDSU, UND, South Dakota and Missouri State are 1-0, but the Bears aren’t eligible for a conference championship because they’re moving to FBS next season. NDSU and UND are 4-1 and the Coyotes are 3-1 after having a game at Portland State canceled. The Jackrabbits are also 3-1. Last week, the Bison appeared to put some distance between them and Illinois State with a 42-10 road win. Southern Illinois already has three losses and 2-2 Northern Iowa struggled to win at St. Thomas.
Besides NDSU and UND, the other big game
this week is the Jackrabbits at UNI, which could be the Panthers’ best shot of getting back into the mix.
“I don’t know if it’s the UNI-Dome as much as they’re just a great football team regardless of what they’re record ever shows,” said SDSU head coach Jimmy Rogers in his weekly press conference. “They’re always better than what their record is when they play us. Etc. etc. etc.
NDSU’s schedule is ranked second-toughest in the FCS. Colorado is 4-1 after three straight wins over Colorado State, Baylor and Central Florida; East Tennessee State moved to 3-2 and moved to No. 23 in the Stats Perform top 25 media poll.
Bison quar terback Cam Miller’s 216 passing yards last week was the 15th career 200-yard plus game, passing the school record of 14 held by Brock Jensen from 2010-13. • Bison quarterback Cole Payton’s 73-yard touchdown run at Illinois State was the longest of his career. He led the Bison last year with 10 touchdowns of at least 20 yards.
UND leads the series 63-50-3 with the record in Fargo deadlocked at 28-28-1. Readers can reach Forum reporter Jeff Kolpack at jkolpack@forumcomm.com. Twitter@KolpackInForum