Zach Strief attended Milford High School in Milford, Ohio where he was on the football, basketball and track teams. He played offensive tackle and defensive tackle on the football team where he was named all-conference as a sophomore. As a junior he only gave up one sack, earning all-conference honors again. As a senior he served as team captain and didn't allow a single sack all year. On defense he totaled 50 tackles and two sacks. He was named first team all-conference, all-city, all-southwest ohio, and second team all-state. He became the first player in school history to earn all-conference honors three consecutive seasons. He was selected to play in the Big 33 and North-South Ohio games following the season. He was recruited by Maryland, Georgia Tech, Michigan State, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, but he opted to attend Northwestern instead. He sat out the 2001 season as a redshirt, then returned to start the final three games of the 2002 season. He continued to start as a sophomore, earning honorable mention all-big ten honors for his play on the season. As a junior in 2004, Strief had another outstanding season, earning second team all-big ten honors.

Zach Strief has a great deal of experience, having started at right tackle for Northwestern over the past three seasons. During that time he has proven to be a very durable player who rarely misses time due to injury. He has an excellent combination of size and strength for a tackle. He is a tough player who has the "mean streak" you like to see in an offensive lineman. He is a great run blocker who can outmuscle his opponents, but also displays outstanding technique. Zach lacks the athleticism and quick feet you look for in a left tackle. He also has trouble with speed rushers coming off the edge. Zach Strief is an intelligent, hard working player with excellent leadership qualities. He is a prototypical right tackle who lacks the tools to play on the left side. He should be drafted in the middle rounds by a team looking for a a player who can develop into a right tackle.