Jake Julien

Julien was born on November 10, 1998, in Barrie, Ontario.[1] He attended Barrie North Collegiate Institute and was a soccer and rugby player until Grade 11.[2][3] He had noticed some of the football players attempting to make 50-yard field goals in practice and tried it out himself.[3] He was able to successfully convert them and the football coach suggested he play for the team.[3] Julien played two years for the football team and helped them win a conference championship while playing placekicker and punter, earning offensive most valuable player honors as a senior.[4] He attended Kohl's kicking camps and was given a five-star rating as a punter.[4] He also earned most valuable player honors in soccer and rugby.[4]

During his final year of high school, Julien intended on accepting an offer to play U Sports football for the York Lions.[3] He then got an offer to play as a walk-on for the Eastern Michigan Eagles in the NCAA's Division I FBS, which he accepted.[3] He saw immediate playing time as a true freshman in 2017, appearing in nine games while punting 33 times for 1,407 yards.[4] The following year, he was named second-team All-Mid-American Conference (MAC) after punting 71 times for 3,078 yards.[4] He was a nominee for the Ray Guy Award for best punter nationally and additionally was named the MAC Special Teams Player of the Week five times, the all-time single-season record for the Eagles.[5]

In 2019, Julien again earned second-team All-MAC honors.[5] He earned second-team All-MAC honors for a third time in 2020 while also being a nominee for the Ray Guy Award, leading the conference and placing eighth nationally with a 44.25 punt average.[6] Julien was selected in the fourth round (31st overall) of the 2021 CFL Draft by the Ottawa Redblacks, but chose to return for a final year of college football due to the NCAA giving all players an extra season of eligibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[5][7] In his final season, he punted 51 times for 2,343 yards, averaging 45.9 yards per punt.[8][9] Julien finished his stint at Eastern Michigan with a career average of 43.4 yards per punt in 54 games, tied for the highest all-time, additionally ranking eighth in school history for total punting yards (7,383).[9][10]

After going unselected in the 2022 NFL Draft, Julien was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent.[11] He competed with Jake Bailey for the punting job but was ultimately released on August 16.[12][13] While a free agent, he tried out with the New York Jets in September and later with the Patriots in October.[14][15]

Julien was signed by the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL), who had drafted him in 2021, on May 11, 2023.[16] He was released at the final roster cutdowns on June 3.[17] After being released by Ottawa, he was signed by the Edmonton Elks to be their starting punter.[18][19]