President Trump's handshake, evaluation of Grey Zabel resurfaces after Seahawks draft him in first round

The Seattle Seahawks bolstered their violative enactment Thursday by selecting Grey Zabel successful the archetypal circular of the draft.

The erstwhile North Dakota State standout volition soon beryllium tasked with protecting first-year Seahawks backmost Sam Darnold. 

But arsenic attraction shifts to Zabel's future, his past enactment with President Donald Trump is besides coming backmost into focus.

Zabel and his North Dakota teammates visited Washington, D.C., April 9 successful solemnisation of the shot team's latest NCAA Division I FCS nationalist championship.

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North Dakota State University violative lineman Grey Zabel answers questions astatine a quality league during the 2025 NFL Combine astatine the Indiana Convention Center successful Indianapolis March 1, 2025. (Jacob Musselman/Imagn Images)

Before making their mode to the White House, a fewer delegates and a peculiar guest, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., delivered immoderate remarks. Some Bison shot players past reflected connected their tally to the title.

Once they made it to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., President Trump yet met the shot squad successful the East Room. Trump addressed the North Dakota State players and posed for photos. At 1 constituent during the interaction, Zabel's teammates pointed him out. 

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"Who is the champion player? Let's see, who are they pointing at?" Trump asked. "Biggest guy? Come here."

Zabel past approached the president and shook his hand. 

"Is helium that good?" Trump asked. "Wow. Boy, he's a large sucker huh?"

Trump past asked what presumption Zabel played, and the 305-pound lineman replied, "Offensive line."

North Dakota State's shot squad besides visited the White House during Trump's archetypal term.

President Donald Trump receives a shot jersey with his sanction connected it from backmost Easton Stick arsenic helium welcomes the 2018 Division I FCS champs, the North Dakota State Bison, successful the Diplomatic Room of the White House March 4, 2019, successful Washington, D.C. (Oliver Contreras/Pool/Getty Images)

Zabel started 41 games successful 5 seasons astatine each presumption connected the violative enactment but center. He was an FCS All-American astatine near tackle arsenic a elder past season.

The 23-year-old started the last 36 games of his collegiate vocation and figures to slot successful connected the interior of the Seahawks' line, which is successful request of help. Zabel could rapidly regenerate Seattle's starting near defender from past season, Laken Tomlinson, who is present a subordinate of the Houston Texans.

North Dakota State violative lineman Grey Zabel during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine astatine Lucas Oil Stadium successful Indianapolis March 2, 2025. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

The Seahawks are optimistic Zabel tin beryllium portion of the solution for an violative enactment that struggled mightily successful 2024. Last season, the Seahawks surrendered 54 sacks, tied for 3rd astir successful the NFL. The Seahawks, who went 10-7 past play and won the NFC West, ran the immense bulk of their plays retired of the shotgun formation.

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The versatile Zabel could slot successful astatine immoderate of the 5 starting violative enactment positions, but manager Mike Macdonald said helium would commencement retired astatine guard.

"Hopefully, we find a location for him astatine 1 position, and helium lives determination for a truly agelong clip for us," Macdonald said. "But I deliberation it conscionable speaks to his savvy. It’s not casual to find those guys that tin play interior and astatine tackle. So, he’s 1 of them, and he’s ours now."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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