NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
The Seattle Seahawks reinforced their offensive line on Thursday by selecting Gray Zabel in the first round of the draft.
The former state of the state of North Dakota will soon have the task of protecting the first -year Seahawks Marshals, Sam Darnold.
But as the attention changes to the future of Zabel, his last interaction with President Donald Trump is also focusing again.
Zabel and his North Dakota teammates visited Washington, DC, on April 9 in celebration of the last National Championship of Division I FCS of Division I of the NCAA of the football team.
CLICK HERE for more sports coverage at Foxnews.com
The offensive liner of the North Dakota State University, Gray Zabel, answers questions at a press conference during the combination of NFL 2025 at the IndianApolis Convention Center on Indianapolis on March 1, 2025. (Jacob Musselman/Imagn images)
Before heading to the White House, some delegates and a special guest, Senator Tommy Tuberville, R-ana., Forced some comments. Some Bison soccer players reflected on their career to the title.
Once they reached 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., President Trump finally met with the football team in the east room. Trump went to the players of the North Dakota state and posed for photos. At one time during the interaction, Zabel teammates pointed it out.
Get a complete coverage of the 2025 NFL draft with real -time selections, expert analysis and moments that cannot be lost
“Who is the best player? Let’s see, who do they point to?” Trump asked. “The biggest boy? Come here.”
Zabel then approached the president and shook his hand.
“Is it so good?” Trump asked. “Wow. Chico, it’s a big fool, huh?”
Trump asked what position Zabel played, and the 305 -pound line replied: “offensive line.”
The North Dakota state football team also visited the White House during Trump’s first mandate.
President Donald Trump receives a football shirt with his name from the Field Marshal Easton Stick while welcoming the champions of division I FCS 2018, the state of the state of North Dakota, in the diplomatic room of the White House of March 4, 2019, in Washington, DC, DC (Oliver Contreras/Pool/Getty Images)
Zabel began 41 games in five seasons in each position of the offensive line, except the center. It was a FCS All-American in the left Tackle as a senior last season.
The 23 -year -old began the last 36 games of his university career and figures to be located inside the Seahawks line, which needs help. Zabel could quickly replace Seattle’s left guard last season, Laken Tomlinson, who is now a member of the Houston Texans.
The offensive line of the North Dakota state Gray Zabel during the NFL 2025 exploration combination at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on March 2, 2025. (Kirby Lee/Imagn images)
The Seahawks are optimistic that Zabel can be part of the solution for an offensive line that fought powerfully in 2024. Last season, the Seahawks delivered 54 captures, tied in third place in the NFL. The Seahawks, who had 10-7 last season and won the NFC West, ran the vast majority of their plays outside the shotgun formation.
The versatile Zabel could be located in any of the five initial offensive line positions, but coach Mike Macdonald said he would start on guard.
“Hopefully, we find a home for him in a position, and he lives there for a long time for us,” Macdonald said. “But I think he only talks about his knowledge. It is not easy to find those guys who can play inside and the Tackle. Then, he is one of them, and now is ours.”
