Jake Julien
{{Short description|Canadian gridiron football player (born 1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Jake Julien
| image = File:2023, 09, Jake Julien.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Julien with the Edmonton Elks in 2023
| current_team = Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| number =
| position = Punter
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|11|10}}
| birth_place = Barrie, Ontario, Canada
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 217
| high_school = Barrie North Collegiate
| college = Eastern Michigan (2017–2021)
| cfldraftyear = 2021
| cfldraftround = 4
| cfldraftpick = 31
| pastteams =
- New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2022}})*
- Ottawa Redblacks ({{CFL Year|2023}})*
- Edmonton Elks ({{CFL Year|2023|2024}})
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- CFL All-Star (2024)
- CFL West All Star (2024)
| pfr = JuliJa01
}}
Jacob Christopher Julien (born November 10, 1998) is a Canadian professional football punter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Eastern Michigan Eagles and has also been a member of the New England Patriots, Ottawa Redblacks, and Edmonton Elks.
Early life
Julien was born on November 10, 1998, in Barrie, Ontario.{{Cite web |url=https://www.cfl.ca/players/jake-julien/166265/ |publisher=Canadian Football League |title=Jake Julien}} He attended Barrie North Collegiate Institute and was a soccer and rugby player until Grade 11.{{Cite news |url=https://www.collingwoodtoday.ca/local-news/drafted-into-the-cfl-barries-jake-julien-plans-to-kick-until-his-leg-falls-off-3926513 |newspaper=Collingwood Today |title=Drafted into the CFL, Barrie's Jake Julien plans to kick until his 'leg falls off' |date=July 4, 2021 |author=Gibson, Shawn}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.barrietoday.com/pursuit/barries-jake-julien-ready-to-soar-again-with-ncaas-eastern-michigan-eagles-2831114 |newspaper=Barrie Today |title=Barrie's Jake Julien ready to soar again with NCAA's Eastern Michigan Eagles |date=October 28, 2020 |author=Pereira, Gene}} He had noticed some of the football players attempting to make 50-yard field goals in practice and tried it out himself. He was able to successfully convert them and the football coach suggested he play for the team. 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.{{Cite web |url=https://emueagles.com/sports/football/roster/jake-julien/13577 |publisher=Eastern Michigan Eagles |title=Jake Julien}} He attended Kohl's kicking camps and was given a five-star rating as a punter. He also earned most valuable player honors in soccer and rugby.
College career
During his final year of high school, Julien intended on accepting an offer to play U Sports football for the York Lions. 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. He saw immediate playing time as a true freshman in 2017, appearing in nine games while punting 33 times for 1,407 yards. The following year, he was named second-team All-Mid-American Conference (MAC) after punting 71 times for 3,078 yards. 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.{{Cite news |url=https://www.easternecho.com/article/2021/10/jake-julien-shares-accomplishments-as-a-football-player-for-eastern-michigan-university |newspaper=The Eastern Echo |title=Jake Julien shares accomplishments as a football player for Eastern Michigan University |date=October 5, 2021 |author=McQueary, Blake}}
In 2019, Julien again earned second-team All-MAC honors. 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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.hustlebelt.com/2021/5/5/22421696/mohammed-diallo-jake-julien-dominic-johnson-seelcted-in-2021-canadian-football-league-draft |website=HustleBelt.com |title=Three former MAC players selected in 2021 Canadian Football League Draft |date=May 5, 2021 |author=Jimenez, James H.}} 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.{{Cite news |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/cfl/news/cfl-draft-picks-2021-results/ngjvmytrhkg61gtwn9x65itz9 |newspaper=The Sporting News |title=CFL Draft picks 2021: Complete results, list of selections for Rounds 1-6 |author=Spiegel, Jackie |date=May 4, 2021}} In his final season, he punted 51 times for 2,343 yards, averaging 45.9 yards per punt.{{Cite web |url=https://www.patspulpit.com/2022/6/8/23159594/patriots-roster-analysis-jake-julien-2022-nfl-season |website=PatsPulpit.com |title=Patriots 2022 roster breakdown: Jake Julien is challenging the established order at punter |date=June 8, 2022 |author=Buchmasser, Bernd}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2022/05/09/mondays-nfl-patriots-sign-eastern-michigan-punter-jake-julien/9709975002/ |newspaper=The Detroit News |title=Monday's NFL: Patriots sign undrafted punter Jake Julien of Eastern Michigan |date=May 9, 2022 |agency=Associated Press}} 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).{{Cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/2022/04/05/canadian-punter-julien-feels-time-at-eastern-michigan-has-prepared-him-for-the-nfl.html |newspaper=Toronto Star |agency=The Canadian Press |title=Canadian punter Julien feels time at Eastern Michigan has prepared him for the NFL |author=Ralph, Dan |date=April 5, 2022}}
Professional career
After going unselected in the 2022 NFL draft, Julien was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent.{{Cite web |url=https://emueagles.com/news/2022/4/30/football-emu-punter-jake-julien-signs-with-new-england-patriots.aspx |publisher=Eastern Michigan Eagles |title=EMU Punter Jake Julien Signs with New England Patriots |date=April 30, 2022}} He competed with Jake Bailey for the punting job but was ultimately released on August 16.{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/patriots/news/new-england-rookie-punter-jake-julien-bailey-contract-preseason-eastern-michigan-competition |magazine=Sports Illustrated |title=Despite New Contract, Can Patriots Veteran Lose Punting Job To Rookie? |date=August 9, 2022 |author=Hurwitz, Ethan}}{{Cite web |url=https://3downnation.com/2022/08/16/new-england-patriots-release-canadian-punter-jake-julien/ |website=3DownNation.com |title=New England Patriots release Canadian punter Jake Julien |date=August 16, 2022}} While a free agent, he tried out with the New York Jets in September and later with the Patriots in October.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ganggreennation.com/2022/9/13/23352098/jets-work-four-punters-out |website=GangGreenNation.com |title=Jets Sign Ty Long to Practice Squad After Working Four Punters Out |author=B, John |date=September 13, 2022}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.patspulpit.com/2022/10/27/23427520/jake-julien-free-agent-punters-visit-patriots |website=PatsPulpit.com |title=Old friend Jake Julien among 4 free agent punters reportedly set to visit Patriots |date=October 27, 2022 |author=Buchmasser, Bernd}}
Julien was signed by the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL), who had drafted him in 2021, on May 11, 2023.{{Cite web |url=https://3downnation.com/2023/05/11/ottawa-redblacks-sign-five-players-including-2021-cfl-draft-pick-punter-jake-julien/ |website=3DownNation.com |title=Ottawa Redblacks sign five players, including 2021 CFL Draft pick punter Jake Julien |date=May 11, 2023}} He was released at the final roster cutdowns on June 3.{{Cite web |url=https://3downnation.com/2023/06/03/redblacks-release-21-as-part-of-final-roster-cuts-including-canadian-punter-jake-julien/ |website=3DownNation.com |title=Redblacks release 21 as part of final roster cuts, including Canadian punter Jake Julien |date=June 3, 2023}} After being released by Ottawa, he was signed by the Edmonton Elks to be their starting punter.{{Cite web |url=https://3downnation.com/2023/06/03/elks-sign-canadian-punter-jake-julien-release-american-dl-christian-rector/ |website=3DownNation.com |title=Elks sign Canadian punter Jake Julien, release American DL Christian Rector |date=June 3, 2023}}{{Cite news |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9759401/edmonton-elks-young-secondary-home-opener/ |newspaper=Global News |title=Edmonton Elks' young secondary will be tested early and often in home-opener |date=June 9, 2023 |author=Campbell, Dave}} Julien turned in an outstanding 2024 season, taking home division and league-wide honors for the punter position, and winning an overtime game by punting a tie-breaking rouge.{{cite web | url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/argos/fords-heroics-and-walk-off-rouge-lift-elks-over-argonauts-in-overtime/article_ae434f98-7a64-5cdd-88c6-9563563b8d54.html | title=Ford's heroics and walk-off rouge lift Elks over Argonauts in overtime | website=Toronto Star | date=October 26, 2024 }}
On January 21, 2025, Julien signed a reserve/future contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.{{cite web|title=Bucs Ink DL Adam Gotsis, P Jake Julien to Futures Deals|url=https://www.buccaneers.com/news/bucs-ink-dl-adam-gotsis-p-jake-julien-futures-deals|author=Smith, Scott|website=Buccaneers.com|date=January 21, 2025}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.goelks.com/players/jake-julien/166265/ Edmonton Elks bio]
- {{NFL.com player|jake-julien|archive=20220816225014}}
- {{commonscatinline}}
{{Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Julien, Jake}}
Category:Canadian football placekickers
Category:American football punters
Category:Canadian football punters
Category:Players of Canadian football from Ontario
Category:Sportspeople from Barrie
Category:Eastern Michigan Eagles football players
Category:New England Patriots players
Category:Ottawa Redblacks players
Category:Edmonton Elks players