As a walk-on during his freshman year, few could have guessed Joe Bockheim would start every football game his senior year. Six years after graduation, the Grand Rapids native is now a guitarist and vocalist, releasing his band's first record July 4.

The 28-year-old is a full time member of The Legal Immigrants. Bockheim applied his experience playing football at Central Michigan University to finish his band's first record, "Drugs to Roses."

The band will tour the state, Illinois and Wisconsin in July. Their last two shows before dropping the record will be at 10 p.m. Friday at Rubbles Bar in Mount Pleasant and Saturday at MAC's Bar in Lansing.

As a track star in high school, Bockheim was surprised when then head coach Brian Kelly offered him a walk-on football position at CMU. After visiting Mount Pleasant with his father and grandfather, Bockheim immediately knew he wanted to be a Chippewa.

"I was practicing for the track state finals when my high school athletic director told me coach Kelly wanted to speak with me," he said. "I took one visit and decided it was the place for me. It was the greatest time of my life. I always look back very fondly at CMU."

Although Bockheim made it on the team, he didn't play in any games his freshman season. By the end of his first semester at CMU, Bockheim realized he needed to make a change.

"I thought I was prepared going into my second semester until coach Longo asked me if I was coming back to play," he said. "That's when I realized I had to better myself as a football player. I started to practice more and took playing more seriously. By the time senior year rolled around, I was starting every game."

Playing side-by-side with now Pittsburg Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown, Bockheim said he was fortunate to have the opportunity to grow through that experience. After graduating in 2009 with a major in health administration, Bockheim wanted to do something else with his life.

"The day I got back from school I knew exactly what I wanted to do: start a band," he said. "It was the day after Michael Jackson died. I found some local guys and we started from scratch. I never sang into a microphone, and I never really played standing up. It was all new for me."

Steering away from the traditional route for most musicians, Bockheim used the lessons football taught him to develop the band.

"Football taught me a lot about people and life, but most importantly it taught me what relentless determination could produce," Bockheim said. "When I got to Mount Pleasant I came onto the team with six other wide receivers, and I was the worst of them. That slow climb to starting my senior year is what I am trying to apply to this band."

The Legal Immigrants formed in 2009 and their first concert was played at a small bar in Grand Rapids, Joey's Lounge, for a benefit concert. Six years later, the band redefined itself with two new members and a new sound.

The band went from playing local bars in Grand Rapids to performing throughout the state, signing with Big Dutch Records and recording a full length record.

"We started in 2009 and only two original members are still in the band, the drummer and I," Bockheim said. "With the addition of our two new members, it's a different band. The name just stayed the same. Although we're six years old, we're starting fresh with this record."

The Legal Immigrants Band is drummer Tony Lubenow, bassist Kevin Kitsch and lead guitarist Trevor Reidsma. One of two original band members, Lubenow said the band started from the ground level.

"We never played together before starting the band," Lubenow said. "I met Joe through a friend of a friend. I just really needed to find a serious band, and that's when I joined."

Kitsch and Reidsma joined a few years after the band formed. Reidsma said he joined the band because making a living with music was a life-long goal of his.

"I dropped out of college to pursue music. It's what I am best at," he said.

For Kitsch joining the band wasn't as easy. He met the band three years ago, but Kitsch officially joined them five months ago.

"I met (the band) when they opened for my band The Michigan Dump Squad," he said. "My old band moved out to Nashville and I had to start looking for another serious band. My old guitarist told me The Legal Immigrants were looking for a bassist, I was hesitant at first. We had a practice or two together and I wanted to join."

With two new members and a passion for music, Bockhiem became a full time musician in December 2014. Quitting his salesman position, he said maximizing the band's exposure is important.

"It's a scary business to be in. It's been said that its too competitive, but I'll never let anyone talk me out of things," Bockhiem said. "We're constantly battling the robots and garbage on the radio, but what we have going on works. It's our music that makes us different, our live shows are our livelihood. You have to make your shows an experience that people will buy tickets to and go see. It's an uphill battle, but our live music is our niche."

Bockhiem said the record is a perfect snapshot of The Legal Immigrants in 2015. Drugs to Roses features 10 tracks that offer a variety of different musical approaches.

"It has a little of everything; some folk, hip hop, punk maybe even a little soul," Bockhiem said. "No matter what you categorize it with, it's a very honest record. After hearing it you'll have a better idea of who I am and who the band is."

Click here listen to The Legal Immigrants track "Fork in the Road" on their record "Drugs to Roses." For booking information go to The Legal Immigrants Facebook page.