FIELD NOTES: Kloosterman To Return Saturday At W&M

HARRISONBURG – James Madison will add an asset to its offense this Saturday at William & Mary.

During his weekly press conference on Tuesday, second-year coach Mike Houston said senior tight end Jonathan Kloosterman “should play this week.”

A preseason All-American, Kloosterman has missed two straight games with an illness. Overall, Kloosterman has missed four of six contests this season as he was suspended for the first two for a violation of team rules.

The Strasburg High School grad hauled in three catches for 41 yards and a touchdown in his two appearances - against Norfolk State and Maine - this year.

Last year, Kloosterman recorded 24 catches for 322 yards and seven touchdowns.

While Kloosterman was sidelined, JMU used sophomore Nick Carlton and freshman Clayton Cheatham in his place. Cheatham had two catches for 57 yards and a touchdown this past Saturday against Villanova.

“It’s kind of trial by fire,” Houston said. “We’re going to a play a tight end, so they were going to get in there and play. Both of them have their strengths and I think both of them have their areas they need to improve on, but I think both have improved.

“Certainly, Clayton had a great game for us this past weekend and all of us are pleased about how he’s playing as a freshman.”

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- The last few weeks, JMU has added back pieces to its passing game. Senior wide receiver John Miller returned from injury this past Saturday against Villanova. He had two catches for 38 yards. Senior receiver Terrence Alls returned from a four-game suspension the previous game at Delaware. Since returning, Alls has recorded 10 catches for 108 yards.

- Houston said its good have Alls back for a number of reasons – he can make the highlight-reel catch, execute basic screen passes and block. Houston called Alls the team’s “best-blocking wide out.”

- Maybe more important than a return to the offense was Miller’s return to the punt return team. Miller had five returns for 44 yards against Villanova. Houston said Miller’s ability to gain yardage on punt returns and also convert fair catches helped JMU win the field position battle over the Wildcats.

- Houston said all of JMU’s special teams units played well on Saturday, which helped contribute to the team’s win.

- William & Mary ranks in the top 20 nationally for scoring defense and total defense. Houston said the size of the Tribe’s defensive line stands out to him. The smallest defensive lineman William & Mary starts is 6-foot-3, 245-pound sophomore end Gavin Johnson.

- Miller said, “It’s a great thing” JMU is starting to get its top offensive skill players – him included – back. Miller said adding Alls and Kloosterman not only gives quarterback Bryan Schor two more weapons to throw to. When Schor has multiple targets to connect with, Miller said the run game should begin open up. The three have yet to be on the field at the same time.

- Miller said the offense is aware of the multiple starters William & Mary returns this season on defense.

- JMU has face a few stout defenses – Villanova and Delaware – already this year. Miller said preparing for the tough defenses in the league “has been a grind.” He said the offensive players have been giving maximum effort each day in practice because they know that if they slip up, the opposing defenses are good enough to beat them.

- Schor said Villanova mixed its passing coverages on Saturday. Schor said JMU would line up in “trips personnel” for one play and Villanova would show a certain coverage against it. The very next play when JMU lined up in the same formation, Villanova showed a different coverage, he said.

- The signal-caller said he’s embraced the challenges CAA defenses are giving him and the offense this season. He’s had more prep work this year, but said he enjoys being able to check in and out of plays to try to counter what the defense is throwing at him.

- Senior defensive tackle Simeyon Robinson said the sack he had against Villanova came on a play JMU works frequently on in practice. He said the stunt worked out because the timing of the movement between him and senior defensive end Andrew Ankrah was good.