THE RECRUITING GUY: Barnett pushing QB Pike toward Razorbacks

— Arkansas received a big boost in recruiting with the commitment of Texas tight end Chris Barnett last weekend.

Barnett, who chose the Razorbacks over more than 30 scholarship offers, is actively recruiting other prospects for the 2011 class but is also working on one of the top junior quarterback recruits in the nation, Zeke Pike.

Pike, 6-5, 225 pounds, 4.7 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Edgewood (Ky.) Dixie Heights estimates his scholarship offers being in the mid-30s, including ones from Arkansas, Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, Florida and Tennessee.

Pike and Barnett became close friends after playing on the same team during the Badger Sports Elite 7-on- 7 National Championship in Tuscaloosa, Ala., in July.

“We were the only guys - along with Anthony Wallace - getting recruited, and at the time I was just starting to pick up some of the big offers and SEC offers,” Pike said. “He’s helped me out a lot and teaching me how to be humble about things. We talked a lot and we’ve become good buddies from that.”

Barnett said the two instantly bonded.

“We just developed like a brotherhood type relationship from the jump,” Barnett said. “In warm-ups, I felt like I had played with him my whole life. The timing wasn’t off. It was just clicking. It was great.”

It took less than 15 minutes for Barnett to realize Pike’s passes had a different velocity than other quarterbacks.

“If it goes by your head, you’re going to feel it,” Barnett said. “Even it doesn’t touch you, you’ll feel it. It feels like it changes the whole air around you. He has a cannon.”

The outgoing Barnett hasbeen educating Pike on why he chose to continue his football career at Arkansas.

“He said the atmosphere is great, the fans are great and the community is just a great place to be,” Pike said. “He looks forward to spending his next four or five years there. I want to get that same feeling and see how things are going down there, too.”

Pike wanted to attend Arkansas’ game against Vanderbilt on Saturday but was unable to make it. He hopes to visit during the Hogs’ game against Texas- El Paso on Nov. 13.

“If something happens and we can’t get down there, we’re definitely going to get down there in the spring to just get a feel for that atmosphere.” he said.

As a sophomore, Pike connected on 100 of 175 passes for 1,634 yards with 17 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. In nine games this season, he’s thrown for about 1,800 yardswhile running for 980 yards.

“I love running the ball just as much as I do throwing the ball,” said Pike, who operates out of the Spread. “I’ve thrown for about 18 touchdowns, and I’ve ran for about 12.”

Pike said numerous people have compared him to Razorbacks quarterback Ryan Mallett,

“Not only the way we can throw the ball, but the way we’re built,” Pike said. “A lot of the attributes are the same. When I do get a chance to watch Arkansas, I see myself fitting into the offense perfectly with what they’re doing right now. They throw the ball and that’s what I love to do.”

Email Richard Davenport at

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Sports, Pages 31 on 10/31/2010

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