Top 12 QB gives Auburn rave reviews

One of the top quarterbacks in the nation for the 2012 class is Edgewood (Ky.) Dixie Heights' Zeke Pike.

Pike had a coming out party a few weeks ago at the BadgerSports national 7-on-7 tournament. Pike impressed many scouts, and them saying he was the best player in attendance.

"I love competing against the best guys," Pike said. "I went to Alabama and threw really great and was just hitting on all cylinders. It felt great, it was a blessing."

On Saturday, Pike brought his talent to the Auburn camp, and continued his impressive play by garnering an offer from the Tigers.

"I had a great conversation with coach Chizik, and he offered me a full scholarship and said we want you to be a part of the family," Pike said. "That makes me feel good about myself. To have a great feel about a place and then for them to offer a scholarship, it feels great."

It was Pike's second trip to Auburn in the last few months, and it's a place he is quickly growing to love.

"I love Auburn," Pike said. "I love being here, I love the coaches here, I love being here, I am just so happy to be here and be back. I was here for a spring practice. We got to see the facilities, and the academic side as well. Since the first time I came here, I decided I was going to keep Auburn on top because I just like the feel here.

"Auburn is just one of those places that once you get down here and see the campus, it's just really great. I'm a very Christian guy, and it's a godly atmosphere."

A big reason Pike is so high on the Tigers right now is offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn. Malzahn thinks Pike is the type of quarterback that could excel in his offense, and Pike seems to agree.

"I met coach Malzahn in the spring after he saw my film, he really liked me and wanted me to come down here," Pike said. "Obviously coach Malzahn knows how to put up some numbers and that's shown from when he was at Tulsa and Arkansas. He said from the get go that I'm his type of guy, and he just feels if he can get a quarterback like me that can thrown the ball in there we can put up some big numbers."

Malzahn, and defensive coordinator Ted Roof are leading the recruiting efforts for Auburn early on, and Pike already has a tie to Roof, as his father and Roof played football together in college.

"Coach Roof was the first person I sent my film to," Pike said. "My dad played with him at Georgia Tech, then coach Malzahn saw my film. I play defensive end too, but I want to play quarterback at the next level."

Pike had the opportunity to sit down and talk to Auburn head coach Gene Chizik as well, and was extremely impressed with what he heard. So much so, that Pike told Chizik although he was only entering his junior year, he felt like Auburn would always be among his top schools until the end.

"This was the first chance we've sat down and talked to him," Pike said. "He's a great guy, the whole staff is. You can't complain about anybody, they are just such a wonderful group of guys. They make you feel like you have a bunch of dads.

"I told coach Chizik, since the first I came here, you guys would always be in my top five, top three."

Pike says he has started to get a feel for a few schools that he is interested in more than others, but still has to do his homework before making any kind of decision.

"I'm starting to get a good feel of where I like," Pike said. "Obviously I have my favorites, but I'm just trying to learn more about each program."

Pike has already made plans to be back in Auburn this fall, and is excited about seeing what a game day in Auburn is all about.

"We talked about it, I think we'll try and get back down here for the Clemson game," Pike said.