{{Short description|Canadian gridiron football player (born 1998)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox Canadian Football League biography |name=Jake Julien |team=Edmonton Elks |image=File:2025, 10, Jake Julien.jpg |caption=Julien with the Edmonton Elks in 2025 |status=Active |import=no |position1=Punter |birth_date={{birth date and age|1998|11|10}} |birth_place=Barrie, Ontario, Canada |number=10 |college=Eastern Michigan |high_school=Barrie North Collegiate |Height_ft=6 |Height_in=1 |Weight_lbs=227 |CFLDraftedYear=2021 |CFLDraftedRound=4 |CFLDraftedPick=31 |teams= * New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2022}})* * Ottawa Redblacks ({{CFL Year|2023}})* * Edmonton Elks ({{CFL Year|2023|2024}}) * Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|2025}})* * Edmonton Elks ({{CFL Year|2025}}–present) |career_highlights= * CFL All-Star (2024) * CFL West All Star (2024) |CFL=jake-julien/166265/ }}
'''Jacob Christopher Julien''' (born November 10, 1998) is a Canadian professional football punter for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Eastern Michigan Eagles and has been a member of the New England Patriots, and Ottawa Redblacks.
==Early life== Julien was born on November 10, 1998, in Barrie, Ontario.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cfl.ca/players/jake-julien/166265/ |publisher=Canadian Football League |title=Jake Julien}}</ref> He attended Barrie North Collegiate Institute and was a soccer and rugby player until Grade 11.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{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}}</ref> He had noticed some of the football players attempting to make 50-yard field goals in practice and tried it out himself.<ref name="auto2"/> He was able to successfully convert them and the football coach suggested he play for the team.<ref name="auto2"/> 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.<ref name="auto3">{{Cite web |url=https://emueagles.com/sports/football/roster/jake-julien/13577 |publisher=Eastern Michigan Eagles |title=Jake Julien}}</ref> He attended Kohl's kicking camps and was given a five-star rating as a punter.<ref name="auto3"/> He also earned most valuable player honors in soccer and rugby.<ref name="auto3"/>
==College career== During his final year of high school, Julien intended on accepting an offer to play U Sports football for the York Lions.<ref name="auto2"/> 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.<ref name="auto2"/> He saw immediate playing time as a true freshman in 2017, appearing in nine games while punting 33 times for 1,407 yards.<ref name="auto3"/> The following year, he was named second-team All-Mid-American Conference (MAC) after punting 71 times for 3,078 yards.<ref name="auto3"/> 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.<ref name="auto1">{{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}}</ref>
In 2019, Julien again earned second-team All-MAC honors.<ref name="auto1"/> 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.<ref>{{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.}}</ref> 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.<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{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}}</ref> In his final season, he punted 51 times for 2,343 yards, averaging 45.9 yards per punt.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{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}}</ref> 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).<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{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}}</ref>
==Professional career== {{NFL predraft | height ft = 6 | height in = 1 1/2 | weight = 227 | arm span = 29 1/2 | hand span = 9 1/4 | note = All values from Pro Day<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1027572&DraftYear=2022 |title=Jake Julien College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=July 15, 2025}}</ref> }}
===New England Patriots=== After going unselected in the 2022 NFL draft, Julien was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent.<ref>{{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}}</ref> He competed with Jake Bailey for the punting job but was ultimately released on August 16.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> While a free agent, he tried out with the New York Jets in September and later with the Patriots in October.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
===Ottawa Redblacks=== Julien was signed by the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL), who had drafted him in 2021, on May 11, 2023.<ref>{{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}}</ref> He was released at the final roster cutdowns on June 3, 2023.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
===Edmonton Elks (first stint)=== On June 3, 2023, Julien was signed by the Edmonton Elks to be their starting punter.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> He 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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>
===Tampa Bay Buccaneers=== On January 21, 2025, Julien signed a reserve/future contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.<ref>{{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}}</ref> He was waived on August 5.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tampa Bay Buccaneers waive Canadian punter Jake Julien |url=https://3downnation.com/2025/08/05/tampa-bay-buccaneers-waive-canadian-punter-jake-julien/ |website=3down Nation |access-date=August 6, 2025}}</ref>
===Edmonton Elks (second stint)=== It was announced on August 27, 2025, that Julien had re-signed with the Edmonton Elks.<ref>{{cite web |title=Transaction: Record setting punter Jake Julien returns to the Elks |url=https://www.goelks.com/2025/08/27/transaction-record-setting-punter-jake-julien-returns-to-the-elks/ |publisher=Edmonton Elks |access-date=August 27, 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.goelks.com/players/jake-julien/166265/ Edmonton Elks bio] * {{NFL.com player|jake-julien|archive=20220816225014}} *{{commonscatinline}}
{{Edmonton Elks roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Julien, Jake}} Category:1998 births Category:Living people 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 Category:Players of American football from Ontario Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers players