![]() Julien with the Edmonton Elks in 2023 | |
Edmonton Elks | |
---|---|
Position: | Punter |
Personal information | |
Born: | Barrie, Ontario, Canada | November 10, 1998
Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
Weight: | 217 lb (98 kg) |
Career information | |
High school: | Barrie North Collegiate |
College: | Eastern Michigan (2017–2021) |
NFL draft: | 2022: undrafted |
CFL draft: | 2021: 4th round, 31st pick |
Career history | |
| |
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
Roster status: | Active |
CFL status: | National |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at Pro Football Reference |
Jacob Christopher Julien (born November 10, 1998) is a Canadian professional football punter. He played college football for the Eastern Michigan Eagles and has been a member of the New England Patriots, Ottawa Redblacks, and Edmonton Elks.
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]
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 1+1⁄2 in (1.87 m) | 227 lb (103 kg) | 29+1⁄2 in (0.75 m) | 9+1⁄4 in (0.23 m) | |||||||||
All values from Pro Day [11] |
After going unselected in the 2022 NFL draft, Julien was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent. [12] He competed with Jake Bailey for the punting job but was ultimately released on August 16. [13] [14] While a free agent, he tried out with the New York Jets in September and later with the Patriots in October. [15] [16]
Julien was signed by the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL), who had drafted him in 2021, on May 11, 2023. [17] He was released at the final roster cutdowns on June 3. [18] After being released by Ottawa, he was signed by the Edmonton Elks to be their starting punter. [19] [20] 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. [21]
On January 21, 2025, Julien signed a reserve/future contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. [22] He was waived on August 5. [23]