Making the roster of the storied football program at the University of Michigan is no small feat.
It’s not easy to be recruited by the Wolverines.
It’s incredibly difficult to make the team as a walk-on.
But that’s exactly what Joey Files, a former Kingsbury Country Day School student, did. The 18-year-old tried out at Schembechler Hall on Saturday, Jan. 23 and on Monday, he received an e-mail welcoming him to the team.
‘It’s unbelievable,? said Files, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound freshman. ‘I really was not expecting it. I’m on the crew (rowing) team here at Michigan and I heard about the walk-on tryouts. I really loved football in high school. I (thought) I’ll give it a shot and see what I have.?
Files, the son of Orion Township residents Robert Files and Christine Stephens (an Oxford attorney and member of the Rotary Club of Oxford), graduated from Cranbrook in June 2015. There, he played football all four years along with basketball and lacrosse.
On the gridiron, he played both offense and defense as a tackle and during his senior year, he earned All-State, All-Catholic and All-Academic honors.
‘I was one of the leaders on the team for tackles, defensively,? Files said.
Smaller schools, like Hope and Albion, expressed an interest in Files and he gave playing college ball some serious consideration. Ultimately, he decided to focus more on academics than athletics.
But the itch to play never goes away and after consulting with his parents, Files decided he had nothing lose trying to earn a spot as a tight end for the Maize and Blue.
During the walk-on tryouts, Files said he faced ‘some solid competition? and in the end, he thought he ‘did okay,? but he wasn’t holding his breath.
‘I didn’t really think I was going to make it,? he explained. ‘I thought I was a lot weaker and a lot slower than a lot of the other guys. I guess that wasn’t the case, or maybe they saw something different.?
Now that he’s on the team, Files intends to give it his all.
When asked if he expects to get any playing time in the Big House this fall, he replied, ‘I highly doubt it.?
‘If I did, it would be fantastic, but I’m content to just work my butt off and get to stand on the sidelines. If I get my opportunity, I’ll take it.?
‘It would be great if I could be an inspiration to some kid trying something new,? Files noted.
He’s definitely excited to become part of the famed Michigan tradition.
‘It’s always been a historically great program,? he said. ‘With (Head Coach Jim) Harbaugh (taking) the reins, it’s got the chance to be something incredibly special. Just to be able to say I’m a part of that, it’s fantastic. It’s something I can’t believe happened.?
Files believes Harbaugh’s done a great job of turning things around at Michigan, going from a 5-7 record in 2014 to a 9-3 regular season last year, topped off by a 41-7 win in the Orlando Citrus Bowl.
‘Even at the walk-on tryouts, it was obvious that (Harbaugh’s) looking for the best available people and looking to take this team as far as he can go,? he said.
Files plans to major in biology and possibly pursue a career in medicine as a doctor.