By Ryan Deal 

605 Sports

The competitions launched all three of them from Pierre Governors into Division I athletes and each with different skill sets.  

Peyton, the oldest brother, recently finished his career as a pitcher at Texas State University and was a quarterback in high school. Grey is a senior offensive lineman for North Dakota State University, and Jett is a freshman tight end for the Bison. 

“My two brothers look a lot more similar than I do — tall, skinny, muscular,” Grey said. “I am kind of the black sheep of the family. But luckily I got my dad’s athletic build and then my two other brothers got my mom’s athletic ability and athletic build. It’s pretty unique that we all kind of chose different paths and luckily me and my brother were able to have our paths cross up at North Dakota State.”

The Zabel brothers were all a part of Pierre’s historic football run, which included seven straight Class 11AA state championships from 2017-23. Grey was a member of three state championships and was named the Class 11AA Outstanding Lineman in back-to-back state championships in 2018 and ‘19.
“The high school career that our family has had is pretty unique, and it’s special to have a Zabel part of every single championship in that run of seven championships,” Zabel said. “It’s pretty special to see and that just goes to show how awesome of a community Pierre is because there have been some unbelievable athletes come through. It’s a community that loves sports and they really give back to young athletes in the community to go out and play their best and the coaches there are second to none.”

Zabel credits the Pierre coaches across all sports for his development into a college football prospect. In addition to football, Zabel also played basketball and baseball in high school.  

“I think the coaching staff was a huge part in my success in high school and have the ability to play Division I athletics,” Zabel said. “Because of the hard work instilled in me and the ability to demand perfection from everything that you do. I give big kudos to the coaching staff and everything that they’ve done in all sports.”

But Zabel’s future was undoubtedly in football, and he began attracting Division I interest as Pierre was stacking up championships. In-state FCS programs South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota heavily recruited Zabel. FBS programs Iowa, Kansas State and Iowa State were also showing interest, but “all the bigger schools didn’t know if I was going to be able to put on weight or get big enough. It kind of put a chip on my shoulder.”

Zabel picked the Bison due to his relationships with former NDSU coaches Matt Entz, Tyler Roehl and A.J. Blazek. And the football tradition speaks for itself at NDSU, which has won nine FCS national championships since 2011.

“It helps when you walk in on a visit and they have a trophy case like they do that’s just rich in tradition and the standard here is just unbelievably high,” Zabel said. “It’s an easy decision to come join a place like this and demand the best of yourself.”

Pierre's Grey Zabel is a senior offensive lineman for the North Dakota State University football team. (NDSU Athletics)

Zabel, who arrived on campus as a 6-foot-4 1/2 and 245-pound lineman, naturally went through an adjustment and also dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic. A 2020 Pierre High School graduate, Zabel got on campus as the pandemic threw a wrench into the fall season. 

The FCS fall season was put on hold and was completed in the spring of 2021. But in hindsight, the experience reinforced his passion for football.  

“It was a unique experience,” Zabel said. “But I was glad that I was able to go through it to truly understand the game of football and how much love and passion that I had for it.”

Zabel was a backup offensive lineman in 2021, starting in 11 of 15 games for the Bison. It was NDSU’s ninth championship over an 11-year span. The Bison finished the season 14-1 and defeated Montana State for the national championship. 

“The one thing I remember is just the senior leadership and the hard work that it took to go out and win a championship like that,” Zabel said. “Because as you know winning isn’t easy. You have to celebrate every single win that you get and that kind of goes to show the hard work and dedication to go out and win at the highest level is 1,000% worth it. I wouldn’t trade it for a single thing.”

Zabel has since evolved into a reliable and versatile offensive lineman. Zabel, who is now listed at 6-foot-6, 305 pounds, has played all five offensive line positions during his Bison career.

This season, he’s started all 11 games at left tackle and said that’s the position he prefers the most. 

“The ability of being the guy that protects the quarterback’s blindspot, and kind of having that badge of honor on your shoulder,” Zabel said about playing left tackle. “Being out on the island and just being the guy that protects the QB from everything he can’t see.”

Zabel, who graduated in the spring with a degree in agriculture business, could have opted for the transfer portal and lucrative NIL opportunities after last season. But returned to NDSU for an additional year of eligibility due to the impact of COVID-19 on the 2020 season.

The addition of Jett, a redshirt freshman, into the NDSU program, also played into his decision. 

“That was a pretty big factor in my decision,” Zabel said. “To have the ability to play college football with your sibling, especially a younger brother, and kind of show him the ropes has been a surreal experience. I am so grateful I did decide to come back and have these 8-to-10 months with him. Because it’s been so cool to experience his growth and his transition from high school to college and kind of witness that firsthand. It’s been an awesome experience and I am forever grateful for it.”

On the field, Zabel has continued to be a reliable blocker and was named a preseason All-American by Stats Perform. This season, he’s been named the Missouri Valley Football Conference offensive lineman of the week twice. 

North Dakota State (10-1) is currently ranked No. 1 in FCS, and its only loss was against FBS Colorado in the season opener. The Bison also regained the Dakota Marker against rival South Dakota State University on Oct. 19 in Fargo. 

“It’s been special with the senior class that we have especially,” Zabel said. “To kind of all come in and experience something like COVID and have some ups and some downs, and to kind of know this is our last go-round, our last dance has been awesome and I am looking forward to finishing it out with this group of guys.”

Zabel will then shift his attention to the next step, and it appears that could be the NFL Draft. The Bison have produced several NFL players in recent years, and Zabel could be the next in line to hear his name called on draft weekend in April 2025. 

But he’s more focused on finishing out his time as a Bison. 

“I am kind of just taking it one day at a time, one week at a time, and trying to figure out the best way to be my best self every single day,” Zabel, 22, said. “So I haven’t really put too much thought into what’s next.”

Zabel’s NFL prospects were recently boosted by an invitation to the Reese’s Senior Bowl in February 2025. The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football all-star game in Mobile, Alabama, which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those players who have completed their college eligibility. 

Zabel was informed of the invitation after a recent practice, and he addressed the NDSU football team in a moment that was captured on social media. 

Zabel’s message was simple. 

“This program has given so many guys opportunities at the next level or their next stages in life,” Zabel said. “So I was just trying to reemphasize that you don’t have to go anywhere to achieve or accomplish big things. Staying here, working hard or putting your head down being disciplined is going to get you a lot further in life than you ever think or believe. So I was just trying to let the young guys know this place is super special and it gives opportunities to people that work hard.”

North Dakota State will play at the University of South Dakota on Nov. 23.