Jake Julien is the next Eagles player that is getting a shot in the NFL after signing an undrafted free agent contract with the New England Patriots on April 30. The only punter in program history with two 70-yard punts was 23-year-old Julien.
The 11th grader who had switched from soccer to football took a chance in 2021 by returning to Eastern Michigan for his graduation senior season. Because the 2020 season was cut to six games owing to the COVID-19 epidemic, he got an additional year of eligibility.
The Barrie, Ontario native chose to remain at Ypsilanti for the 2021 season in an effort to increase his prospects of playing in the NFL after being selected by the Ottawa RedBlacks with the 31st overall choice in the fourth round of the 2021 CFL Draft.
In addition to being chosen to Phil Steele’s College Football Preview’s fourth-team preseason All-American and first-team preseason All-Mid-American conference, Julien entered the season on the Ray Guy award watch list.
Julien performed well in his final season with the Eagles, earning a second-team All-Mid-American selection after having 51 punts go for 2,343 yards, while not making the first-team All-MAC team.
He had career highs in fair catches (17), punts over 50 yards (14), and the longest punt (average yards per punt of 45.9). (78).
Julien was also chosen for the All-MAC team in 2018, in addition to the 2021 selection. A total of seven MAC-West Division special teams player of the week awards went to him. His performance at Eastern Michigan earned him a spot in the January 8–12 College Gridiron Showcase.
On March 17, Julien attended Eastern Michigan’s pro day as part of the pre-NFL draft process. He worked out in private with at least five NFL organizations.