Rivaldo Fairweather not worried about lack of preseason hype: ‘I know what’s going to happen’

AUBURN — Rivaldo Fairweather wasn’t named to any of the three preseason SEC teams by the media. And when Pro Football Focus named their top 10 tight ends returning for this season, Fairweather didn’t make that list either.

But that isn’t bothering the former FIU transfer as preseason camp rolls on.

“I mean, I really don’t pay attention to preseason stuff. A couple of people were telling me about it and showing me, but preseason is just what they think that’s going to happen. I know what’s going to happen,” Fairweather said. “I know that I’m number one in this league and number one in the nation. So I don’t really worry about it. I just put the work in and I’m about to go out there and show it this season.”

Fairweather was the team leader with 38 catches for 394 yards last season. He set a single-season Auburn tight end receiving record with 38 catches, and his six touchdowns ranked one short of Philip Lutzenkirchen’s single-season tight end record (7 in 2011).

Now, he has help. Enter KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Cam Coleman, Perry Thompson, Robert Lewis, Malcolm Simmons and others to help alleviate the pressure on Fairweather to the the only playmaker downfield.

“Our receivers deserve to be brought up because they really improved. The freshmen came in ready to play,” Fairweather said. “Camden Brown, Cam Coleman, Rob Lewis, they all deserve the glory because it’s a new receiver corps this year. And I feel like that’s gonna help me this year because they ain’t gonna be able to bracket, put safeties over top, nothing. Cause our receivers are going to go out there and make plays. So we’re gonna be good.”

Fairweather was targeted 53 times last season, catching 38. He did record at least six drops though. Hugh Freeze mentioned earlier this year that Fairweather becoming more consistent would be important to the big man’s development.

“I’ve been focusing on catching better. Like I’ve been on the JUGS every day, catch 200 balls a day. Also blocking, my coach, coach Ben (Aigamaua), he’s been really helping us with that and indie drills. Just doing all the blocking stuff and working on better hand placement and stuff like that,” Fairweather said.

“In the last six months, I really focused on getting my body right. I kind of toned up a little bit and I’ve been grinding this offseason. Focus on making sure I’m in shape, having better stamina and stuff like that, so I can go out there and play every play and not want to come off the field because my team needs me out there.”

AUBURN, AL – August 06, 2024 – Auburn Tight End Rivaldo Fairweather (#13) during a fall camp practice at the Woltosz Football Performance Center in Auburn, AL.

Photo by Austin Perryman

Aigamaua talked about Fairweather on Thursday. We’ll have more on that in a Q&A with Aigamaua coming soon. Aigamaua did talk about Fairweather becoming more comfortable in the box and spending less time on the perimeter with the addition of the talented receivers Auburn brought into the program.

“It kind of makes my job kind of easier for real,” Fairweather said. “Now we got wideouts out there. Guess who going to have to go out and BB’s and safety’s and linebacker is going to be on me. Safety is going to be on me. It’s gonna be an easier job for me when I’m on the inside making plays against the linebackers and it’s gonna be great for our offense.”

Fairweather continued about the newcomers at wideout, saying, “Yeah, definitely them boys, they came in ready. Coach Davis went out there, coach Freeze went out there, recruited the right guys to come in here and be ready to play and they showed that on the field. They’re out here ready to play, running good routes, catching the ball and that’s what we need out there from the outside.”

To nobody’s surprise, when asked who is standing out among the wideouts, a certain 5-star freshman’s name was mentioned first.

“I feel like Cam. When he first came in, I didn’t know he was going to be that good. I’m not going to lie because, you know, some freshmen come in and they kind of like slow play their way in and build their way up. But Cam, he came in ready and he came in ready to play,” Fairweather said.

“Malcolm, he’s actually good, too. He’s a sleeper. He’s pretty fast out there. Bryce Cain, he’s pretty good. Perry, he a big receiver. He’s going to be good. And just all our receivers are good, man. Now we got depth at receiver now, so they’re not going to be able to stop us.”

Fairweather’s added experience, plus the revamped nature of the offensive roster, certainly is creating plenty of buzz around the Auburn offense during camp.

“This fall our offense is clicking way, way better than last fall. Last fall we kind of had a couple people around that didn’t really know the plays. But this summer our offense, like we really, really wanted to work and we really came together as an offense and put the work in to come out here this fall and just clicking right away since day one,” Fairweather said.

“And, obviously our receivers are way better now. That’s gonna help our team. And just Payton (Thorne), he’s really comfortable back there. Everybody knows what’s going on. Obviously we got Coach (Derrick) Nix coming in, and Coach Freeze in his offense is just. Payton knows everything that’s going on. So when he knows going on he’s more comfortable. He knows the right checks, knows the right reads to make and yeah, the offense is going to be something to look out for this year.”

And what about Thorne? Every player and coach that’s spoken to the media has raved about Thorne’s command of the offense and performance in camp so far. Does Fairweather see the same thing?

“Payton’s more than average quarterback. They sleep on Payton, but I tell them every time, Payton is going to be somebody to watch out for this year,” Fairweather said. “He’s way more comfortable, he’s executing better, making the right reads, making the right throws, and he’s going to be one of the top quarterbacks at SEC.”

The post Rivaldo Fairweather not worried about lack of preseason hype: ‘I know what’s going to happen’ appeared first on On3.