Size 'Em Up
Size 'Em Up
Auburn's first transfer pickup under the new staff is a big-bodied playmaker. And, judging by the past, Rivaldo Fairweather won't be the only one.
To say Auburn made Rivaldo Fairweather a priority in the transfer portal would be an understatement.
Fairweather officially entered the transfer portal on the first day it opened, and Auburn was the very first scholarship offer he publicized on his Twitter account. New Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze and tight ends coach Ben Aigamaua visited him the next day.
Ten days later, at the end of an official visit to the Plains, Fairweather committed to Auburn — becoming the first transfer to do so under the new coaching staff.
As friend of the newsletter and transfer expert Max Olson said when Fairweather entered the portal, it’s not easy to find proven tight ends in this market. And Fairweather is definitely proven, having posted 54 catches for 838 yards and five touchdowns in 22 games at Florida International.
For reference, outgoing Auburn tight end John Samuel Shenker is one of the most productive players at the position in program history. Shenker had 779 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 68 games at Auburn.
Shenker’s departure left Auburn with a void at tight end from a pure receiving perspective. Luke Deal and Tyler Fromm are veterans who have done good work in their roles at Auburn, but they’ve combined for just 25 career catches, 254 yards and two touchdowns. Brandon Frazier has only four receptions in his career.
So Auburn made quick work in landing Fairweather, giving the Tigers one of the best transfer players at his position in the entire cycle.
What stands out the most about Fairweather is his size. He’s 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, yet he’s averaged 15.5 yards per catch for his career. Fairweather has reportedly been clocked around the 4.5 range in the 40-yard dash, and he averaged 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game as a high school basketball player. There’s a lot of athleticism here.
Fairweather is a big man with big-play potential. That fits right in with the track record of Auburn’s new offensive braintrust — and it’s not just limited to the tight end position.
Let’s start by taking a closer look at Fairweather as a new addition to the Auburn offense.