No. 30 recruit in the nation already has people around Auburn football buzzing.
Zeke Pike has become famous to Auburn fans even though he's not done playing high school football for Dixie Heights.
File photo by Michael Noyes
Whether he is at a restaurant or watching a game,
Dixie Heights (Edgewood, Ky.) senior quarterback
Zeke Pike is already regarded like a celebrity by the strong Auburn fan base.
Zeke Pike possesses more than just passing skills. Hisstrength and athleticism have drawn rave reviews.
File photo by Wayne Litmer
Pike, who verbally committed to Auburn in April, estimates he signed at least 100 autographs this past weekend during an unofficial visit he took to campus for Auburn's season opener against Utah State. That's not to mention the photos Auburn fans took of him too.
The attention is a bit "crazy" at times for Pike, but he said the Southeastern Conference campus already feels like a second home. Pike, who is rated the nation's
No. 30 player overall in the Class of 2012, plans to sign his letter of intent with Auburn in early February.
Pike, a five-star recruit who was the first quarterback to the commit to the 2012 U.S. Army All-American Bowl earlier this year, said he's still very happy with his decision to
verbally commit to the Tigers on April 20.
"It's just good to have it out of the way for my senior year and sit back and relax," said Pike. "I really got to choose where" the best situation existed.
Pike also considered the likes of Tennessee, North Carolina, Purdue, Michigan and Arkansas. He said he felt he did his homework in choosing Auburn. As a quarterback, he said he felt obligated to make an early commitment because of his position but he was fortunate to be able to visit a number of places during his recruiting journey.
He had at least 40 scholarship offers this spring and took multiple visits to Auburn before making his final decision, according to the Kentucky Enquirer. Pike will play basketball with Dixie Heights this winter before he enrolls at Auburn in May.
MaxPreps/CBS Sports football recruiting expert Tom Lemming said Pike has the ability to play in a pro-style or spread college system.
"He is one of the top five quarterbacks in the country," Lemming said. "He goes to the right program and he will be a star in college."
Lemming is impressed with Pike's athleticism at quarterback and he also admires his leadership.
"He's got a lot of confidence," Lemming said. "He makes his team better with his presence."
Through the Colonels' first three games, Pike has thrown for 474 yards and three touchdowns. Dixie Heights (0-3) has struggled against three tough opponents, including
Newport Central Catholic and Highlands – both of whom are reigning
state champions in their respective classes in Kentucky. But Pike said he believes Dixie Heights will be successful this Friday at Conner (7 p.m.).
"Any time you lose three in a row you just want to look forward to the future and don't let anything keep you down and keep working," Pike said.
Dixie Heights coach Tom Spritzky said Pike has played well so far this season despite the record. Although Pike has four interceptions, Dixie Heights has struggled to create running lanes and pass protect through the first three games.
Zeke Pike's the son of a former NFL player, so footballis in his genes.
File photo by Wayne Litmer
Northern Kentucky football coaches are very impressed with Pike's ability. He threw for 947 yards and 17 touchdowns last season.
"What impresses me about Pike is size, athleticism and a strong arm," Covington Catholic coach Dave Wirth told the Kentucky Enquirer before the season. "Also, he is very hard to bring down in the pocket. He does an excellent job of extending the play."
The genes are evident in the Pike family. Mark Pike played in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills for 13 years before he retired in 1999. He said he was proud of the way Zeke handled the recruiting attention throughout all the offers and visits.
Mark estimated Zeke received several thousand pieces of mail from college programs – enough to fit nearly his entire office area. Mark, who went with Zeke on the visit to Auburn this past weekend, said this week he still has the mail and it's filed neatly in boxes at home.
Mark has advised Zeke to enjoy his senior year before heading to Auburn. To Zeke, football has always been a part of his family since he could remember.
"I remember the different smells in the locker room, especially the menthol shampoo – it was hard not to forget that menthol shampoo," Zeke told the Kentucky Enquirer before this season. "I never really realized how big it was that I was in the same locker room as Jim Kelly and Bruce Smith and Thurman Thomas. To me it was just dad's job."
