Eastern Michigan Athletics
Jake Julien Selected No. 31 Overall in the CFL Draft
5/4/2021 9:48:00 PM | Football
The Barrie, Ontario-born punter is an EMU record holder
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Just weeks after former Eastern Michigan University football player Steven Nielsen (Dragoer, Denmark-La Lumiere (Ind.) School) was taken No. 2 overall in the Canadian Football League's (CFL) Global Draft, another Eagle, senior punter Jake Julien (Barrie, Ontario-North Collegiate), was selected in the league's annual draft.
Julien, EMU's current starting punter, was drafted No. 31 overall by the Ottawa RedBlacks.
Since 1973, Eastern Michigan has had 20 players taken in the CFL Draft, including eight first round selections.
A four-year starter for the Green and White, Julien has built his special teams resume into one of the best in school history. He is tied with Rich Hanschu (1979-80) for first in the EMU record books with a 43.4 career punting average, and ranks eighth in EMU history with 7,383 yards punting. Julien is the only punter in Eastern Michigan history to record two 70+ yard punts in his career. Through four seasons, he has 51 balls downed inside the opponent's 20-yard line to go along with 37 that traveled longer than 50 yards.
Recognized as a nominee for the Ray Guy Award in 2020, given to the nation's top punter, Julien led the MAC in punting while ranking eighth nationally (44.25 yards per punt) during his most recent campaign with Eastern. He booted 16 punts for 708 yards (44.25 ypp total would rank 3rd in EMU history if a minimum of 20 punts were reached). The senior had six punts for 44.2 yards per punt against Toledo, Nov. 18, with two downed inside the 20-yard line. He twice pinned the opponent inside the 20 against Central Michigan, Nov. 27. Overall, he recorded two punts of 50+ yards and forced opponents into fair catches on seven occasions. For his efforts, he was named to Phil Steele's All-MAC Team, as a third team selection, in 2020.
Emerging as the team's primary punting option in 2017, Julien appeared in nine games as a freshman before earning Second Team All-Mid-American Conference honors as a sophomore in 2018. In that season, he was named the MAC's West Division Special Teams Player of the Week an incredible five times. He is the first player in program history to garner the honor five times in a season. Julien recorded 71 punts for a total of 3,078 yards in 2018, and had 13 punts of 50+ yards. His junior season, 2019, saw him collect second team honors on Phil Steele's All-MAC list. Julien's impressive efforts, which saw him punt 13 times for more than 50 yards and collect MAC Player of the Week honors once, helped lead Eastern to the 2019 Quick Lane Bowl, Dec. 26, where it nearly upset the Atlantic Coast Conference's Pittsburgh Panthers.
The CFL draft is a one-day event that concludes tonight, May 4.
This year's draft looked a little different than those of years past. Instead of the draft order being determined by the standings from the previous season, this year's order featured a "snake" format. That means that after teams pick in the first round, with the order determined by random draw, they then picked in reverse order in the second round, with that pattern continuing throughout.
Another change, the draft was only six rounds, instead of the typical eight. This was in recognition of the fact that 2021 CFL training camps will feature a "double cohort" of Canadian rookies, with a group from each of the 2020 and 2021 CFL Drafts.
Despite being selected, all indications from Julien are that he will forgo the opportunity to play with the RedBlacks, and will instead return to Eastern Michigan for a fifth season in 2021. The return is possible due to the NCAA's extension of eligibility as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Julien is expected to pursue professional opportunities following his 2021 season with the Eagles.
For the most up-to-date information on Julien and the rest of the EMU football program, continue to visit EMUEagles.com and follow the team on social media at @EMUFB.
Canadian Football League Draft Choices
Rd Overall Player Pos Year Team
4 31 Jake Julien P 2021 Ottawa
*1 2 Steven Nielsen OL 2021 Edmonton
5 41 Campbell Allison OL 2015 BC Lions
1 2 Andy Mulumba DE 2013 Winnipeg
1 4 Corey Watman OL 2013 Saskatchewan
3 27 Kalonji Kashama DE 2013 Ottawa
1 2 Jabar Westerman DL 2012 BC Lions
1 7 Eric Deslauriers WR 2006 Montreal
3 21 Matt Kudu DL 2005 Saskatchewan
4 30 Jean-Olivier Gagnon-Gordillo DL 2005 Saskatchewan
1 3 Corey Annett OL 2002 Toronto
3 22 Frank Rocca OL 1997 Calgary
7 57 Gerald Lewis LB 1996 Winnipeg
3 23 Bobby Pandelidis OT/OG 1992 Calgary
4 29 Mitch Brown RB 1991 Toronto
2 16 Branko Vincic DE/DT 1988 Edmonton
6 42 Darrell Harle OT 1988 Saskatchewan
1 5 Matt Finlay LB 1986 Montreal
1 3 Mike Logan QB 1973 Calgary
8 64 Doug Keene TB 1973 Edmonton
* - CFL Global Draft
Julien, EMU's current starting punter, was drafted No. 31 overall by the Ottawa RedBlacks.
Since 1973, Eastern Michigan has had 20 players taken in the CFL Draft, including eight first round selections.
A four-year starter for the Green and White, Julien has built his special teams resume into one of the best in school history. He is tied with Rich Hanschu (1979-80) for first in the EMU record books with a 43.4 career punting average, and ranks eighth in EMU history with 7,383 yards punting. Julien is the only punter in Eastern Michigan history to record two 70+ yard punts in his career. Through four seasons, he has 51 balls downed inside the opponent's 20-yard line to go along with 37 that traveled longer than 50 yards.
Recognized as a nominee for the Ray Guy Award in 2020, given to the nation's top punter, Julien led the MAC in punting while ranking eighth nationally (44.25 yards per punt) during his most recent campaign with Eastern. He booted 16 punts for 708 yards (44.25 ypp total would rank 3rd in EMU history if a minimum of 20 punts were reached). The senior had six punts for 44.2 yards per punt against Toledo, Nov. 18, with two downed inside the 20-yard line. He twice pinned the opponent inside the 20 against Central Michigan, Nov. 27. Overall, he recorded two punts of 50+ yards and forced opponents into fair catches on seven occasions. For his efforts, he was named to Phil Steele's All-MAC Team, as a third team selection, in 2020.
Emerging as the team's primary punting option in 2017, Julien appeared in nine games as a freshman before earning Second Team All-Mid-American Conference honors as a sophomore in 2018. In that season, he was named the MAC's West Division Special Teams Player of the Week an incredible five times. He is the first player in program history to garner the honor five times in a season. Julien recorded 71 punts for a total of 3,078 yards in 2018, and had 13 punts of 50+ yards. His junior season, 2019, saw him collect second team honors on Phil Steele's All-MAC list. Julien's impressive efforts, which saw him punt 13 times for more than 50 yards and collect MAC Player of the Week honors once, helped lead Eastern to the 2019 Quick Lane Bowl, Dec. 26, where it nearly upset the Atlantic Coast Conference's Pittsburgh Panthers.
The CFL draft is a one-day event that concludes tonight, May 4.
This year's draft looked a little different than those of years past. Instead of the draft order being determined by the standings from the previous season, this year's order featured a "snake" format. That means that after teams pick in the first round, with the order determined by random draw, they then picked in reverse order in the second round, with that pattern continuing throughout.
Another change, the draft was only six rounds, instead of the typical eight. This was in recognition of the fact that 2021 CFL training camps will feature a "double cohort" of Canadian rookies, with a group from each of the 2020 and 2021 CFL Drafts.
Despite being selected, all indications from Julien are that he will forgo the opportunity to play with the RedBlacks, and will instead return to Eastern Michigan for a fifth season in 2021. The return is possible due to the NCAA's extension of eligibility as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Julien is expected to pursue professional opportunities following his 2021 season with the Eagles.
For the most up-to-date information on Julien and the rest of the EMU football program, continue to visit EMUEagles.com and follow the team on social media at @EMUFB.
Canadian Football League Draft Choices
Rd Overall Player Pos Year Team
4 31 Jake Julien P 2021 Ottawa
*1 2 Steven Nielsen OL 2021 Edmonton
5 41 Campbell Allison OL 2015 BC Lions
1 2 Andy Mulumba DE 2013 Winnipeg
1 4 Corey Watman OL 2013 Saskatchewan
3 27 Kalonji Kashama DE 2013 Ottawa
1 2 Jabar Westerman DL 2012 BC Lions
1 7 Eric Deslauriers WR 2006 Montreal
3 21 Matt Kudu DL 2005 Saskatchewan
4 30 Jean-Olivier Gagnon-Gordillo DL 2005 Saskatchewan
1 3 Corey Annett OL 2002 Toronto
3 22 Frank Rocca OL 1997 Calgary
7 57 Gerald Lewis LB 1996 Winnipeg
3 23 Bobby Pandelidis OT/OG 1992 Calgary
4 29 Mitch Brown RB 1991 Toronto
2 16 Branko Vincic DE/DT 1988 Edmonton
6 42 Darrell Harle OT 1988 Saskatchewan
1 5 Matt Finlay LB 1986 Montreal
1 3 Mike Logan QB 1973 Calgary
8 64 Doug Keene TB 1973 Edmonton
* - CFL Global Draft
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