HARRISONBURG — Mike Houston waited more than two decades for Jonathan Kloosterman to come around.
When the James Madison coach played college football at Mars Hill University, he wore No. 88 and lined up at tight end. Ever since he began coaching more than 20 years ago at Forbush High School in East Bend, N.C., he’s wanted one of his players to wear that same number and share at least some of the same traits he used to have between the sidelines.
But through stops at T.C. Roberson High School, Brevard College, Lenoir-Rhyne and The Citadel, before taking the JMU job in Harrisonburg, it never happened.
“I had never had a decent player that wore 88 and played tight end in my entire coaching career,” Houston said. “But I think he [Kloosterman] is better than I was.”
Kloosterman, like Houston used to, wears 88 and plays tight end.
The junior rarely comes off the field when the Dukes are on offense. A critical blocker and pass catcher, Kloosterman has made an impact in each of JMU’s blowout wins, Houston said.
“He’s a lot of what I want our team identity to be,” Houston said. “He’s a tough guy. He’s a hard-nosed football player. He makes clutch plays when the game is on the line.”
During Madison’s 56-21 win over Central Connecticut State last Saturday, Kloosterman hauled in a 12-yard reception on fourth-and-8 to keep a drive alive during the second quarter. Three plays later, the Dukes scored to take a 28-7 lead.
“I thought the tight end was x-factor in the game,” Central Connecticut State coach Pete Rossamondo said. “He just does a great job and never quits. He’s a good football player. I bet you he’s an All-CAA guy by the end of the year.”
All five of Kloosterman’s receptions this season have moved the chains.
“I love throwing the ball to him,” James Madison junior quarterback Bryan Schor said. “One thing he does really well is give me a lot of room to make mistakes. He’s a big body, so when he goes down the middle, I don’t have to give him a perfect ball. If I’m a little late, it’s OK because I know he’ll go get that ball for me.”
The success Kloosterman is having now is something he couldn’t have even guaranteed himself four years ago, he said.
A product of Strasburg High School, Kloosterman had only preferred walk-on offers to schools at the Division I level and the only scholarship promises came from Division II programs like Shepherd University.
He walked-on at JMU and eventually earned a scholarship before the start of his sophomore season.
He didn’t become a starter until Houston arrived.
“I developed into it,” Kloosterman said. “I knew I wasn’t the most athletic kid, so I knew I’d have to have a strength in my game. I told myself every day that I had to be most physical guy that I could be. That’s the approach I take to my blocking. I’ve tried to add the good technique, but just being physical took me a long way.”
On the receiving side, Kloosterman said he built up a strong connection with Schor, which started when the two first showed up on campus.
“We came in together during my freshman year, so we’ve always been pretty good friends,” Kloosterman said. “It just worked out that he’s the starting quarterback now and I’m his starting tight end. That really helped our quarterback-tight end relationship.”
Tight ends coach Bryan Stinespring said Kloosterman might only be beginning to scratch the surface.
“He’s a really good football player and I thought he’s played exceptionally well,” Stinespring said. “But, we’re going to see how much better he can play.”
Saturday, Houston will be back in his home state where he played his college ball and started the search for a player that most resembled himself. He will watch his 6-foot-3, 245-pound tight end try to help the Dukes upset FBS North Carolina.
“I had to work my butt off to play,” Houston said. “I think he has worked very hard to develop himself skill-wise. He’s a good blocker and I was a pretty good blocker. I think he is really an excellent receiver, but I was just an OK receiver. I think he’s playing at a higher level than I ever did.”
