Eastern Michigan Athletics
Zupancic to New England; Karutz and Neal Invited to Mini-Camps
4/29/2013 5:28:00 PM | Football, E-Gridiron Group
Five members of the 2012 EMU football team will be in camp with NFL teams
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Former Eastern Michigan University long snapper Mike Zupancic (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.-Trabuco Hills) has agreed to terms with the NFL's New England Patriots. Meanwhile, punter Jay Karutz (North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia-Holy Cross College) has been invited to the Chicago Bears' mini-camp and offensive lineman Korey Neal (Bowie, Md.-St. John's) was invited to the Washington Redskins' mini-camp.
The pair join tight end Garrett Hoskins (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Creston), who hooked on with the Cleveland Browns, and defensive lineman Andy Mulumba (Montreal, Quebec, Canada-Vieux Montreal) who is headed to the Green Bay Packers.
Zupancic was named special teams MVP in 2011 and 2012 after starting all 12 games both seasons. Zupancic was also selected to be a part of the Michigan College Senior Bowl, April 20. He played in a total of 47 games in his career after redshirting his freshmen season.
Karutz, a 2012 First Team All-Mid-American Conference selection, turned in an outstanding senior campaign for the Eagles, ranking second in the MAC and 27th nationally with 42.74 yards per punt. A two-time Ray Guy Award candidate, he finished the season with 24 punts that landed inside the 20-yard line and 12 punts of 50 yards-or-better including a career-long 64-yard punt against Ball State University, Aug. 30. In total, he racked up 2,949 yards via the punt this season which ranks fourth-best in EMU history.
One of just 17 student-athletes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision that is originally from Australia, Karutz finished his EMU career ranked fourth in career punting average (40.1) and punting yardage (8,063).
Neal appeared in 39 games for EMU during his in four seasons.
The pair join tight end Garrett Hoskins (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Creston), who hooked on with the Cleveland Browns, and defensive lineman Andy Mulumba (Montreal, Quebec, Canada-Vieux Montreal) who is headed to the Green Bay Packers.
Zupancic was named special teams MVP in 2011 and 2012 after starting all 12 games both seasons. Zupancic was also selected to be a part of the Michigan College Senior Bowl, April 20. He played in a total of 47 games in his career after redshirting his freshmen season.
Karutz, a 2012 First Team All-Mid-American Conference selection, turned in an outstanding senior campaign for the Eagles, ranking second in the MAC and 27th nationally with 42.74 yards per punt. A two-time Ray Guy Award candidate, he finished the season with 24 punts that landed inside the 20-yard line and 12 punts of 50 yards-or-better including a career-long 64-yard punt against Ball State University, Aug. 30. In total, he racked up 2,949 yards via the punt this season which ranks fourth-best in EMU history.
One of just 17 student-athletes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision that is originally from Australia, Karutz finished his EMU career ranked fourth in career punting average (40.1) and punting yardage (8,063).
Neal appeared in 39 games for EMU during his in four seasons.
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