Lehigh announced the hire of Kevin Cahill on Dec. 19, 2022. Cahill was extremely active on the recruiting trail this offseason as he looks to build Lehigh into a contender in the Patriot League. One massive transfer addition was former Sacred Heart defensive back Javin Adderley.
Adderley spent two years with the Pioneers and saw action at both cornerback and running back. He finished his Sacred Heart career with 12 total tackles and 84 yards rushing over his two seasons.
He committed to Sacred Heart out of Sandy Creek High School; where he was a first-team All-Region and All-County selection as a senior. Adderley was also a preseason All-State selection and served as the team captain.
Thank you Jesus Christ for it all, another opportunity to get it right. 2nd time ain’t nothing like the first, you gotta make it count, COMMITTED. #TGFE #FREE4 @LehighFootball @Coach_MikeKash pic.twitter.com/MxdCvTk4eA
— ⁴ (@DBJavinAdderley) January 30, 2023
Adderley spoke to Zach McKinnell of The Bluebloods about his decision to transfer from Sacred Heart this offseason.
“I was looking for a school closer to home originally after being at Sacred Heart for two seasons,” Adderley said about his decision. “That was a big reason along with trying to play somewhere I felt was home. After the firing of our defensive coordinator… Things did not feel right at Sacred Heart anymore.”
Javin Adderley was one of eight signees on National Signing Day for the Mountain Hawks.
“Lehigh felt like home and it feels like a place where I will flourish,” Adderley said about his decision to sign with Lehigh. “They originally recruited me in high school with the old staff towards the end of my recruitment and my commitment to Sacred Heart. My visit just felt right… Everything about it. Meeting my new teammates, the new coaches, staff, administration, and everyone else around the program. Walking in that stadium and putting the uniform on… It just felt right.”
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Mike Kashurba was retained as the special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach under new head coach Kevin Cahill, which played a large part in Adderley’s recruitment.
“I love the new staff… My first time meeting and talking to all of them was on my visit,” Adderley said about his relationship with the new staff. “Coach Kash recruited me in high school, so my relationship with him has already been developed.”
“I first talked to my position coach (Shamir Bearfield) a week before my visit. He knows my old positional coach at Sacred Heart and was told all good things from him and I can already tell he’s a great coach who is about his business. Lastly, meeting Coach Cahill and the new defensive coordinator (Richard Nagy) for the first time was great.”
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Adderley has set extremely high expectations for his first season at Lehigh. “For 2023, my goals are do everything God has planned for me. I want to be an All-American, first-team All-Conference, and conference Defensive Player of the Year,” said Adderley about his goals for the upcoming season.
“I want to help bring the Patriot League title back to Bethlehem, PA and to make an FCS Playoff run. For the rest of my career, I want to put myself in position to go to the league. Whatever Jesus has for me, I take with all gratitude and I’m excited to start my new journey at Lehigh and turn to this next chapter for sure.”
Lehigh opens the 2023 season on Sep. 2 against Villanova in Goodman Stadium.