(Photo courtesy of Alyson Herzig)

Jake Herzig loves Notre Dame football camp. He’s gone the past three years. But while all the other kids make friends, chat with players and try to impress coaches, 10-year-old Jake keeps to himself in the background.

Jake was recently diagnosed with autism. And while a camp with 600 children, coaches on megaphones and tackling drills might seem overwhelming, it’s a big deal to go to Notre Dame camp. Plus his dad is a Fighting Irish fan and was all-state in high school. So Jake wanted to go.

“It’s very fast-paced,” Jake’s mother Alyson, who wrote about her son’s experience in a blog post, said. “And he just struggles to move and that is very indicative of an autistic child. Changes in routine are not the easiest thing to embrace.”

But this year was different.

Jake’s father John met offensive lineman Steve Elmer at a school career fair last year. Elmer is from Midland, Mich. and John went to college in Midland, so the two bonded and became friendly and have kept in touch. So before Jake headed to camp this year, John asked Elmer if he would meet with his son.

(Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)

A week before camp began, Elmer and wide receiver Cory Robinson went to the Herzig’s home to hang out with Jake.

Jake was in heaven.

“We recognize that we’re in a unique position to help maybe make an impact on people’s lives even if it’s a small thing,” Elmer said. “Just like going over and having a burger and hanging out for a little bit. And that’s something you should do if you’re able to.”

Jake showed Elmer and Robinson his room, past camp photos of him with coach Brian Kelly, and they played a little catch, too.

And when the next week rolled around, Jake was a different person at camp, his mom said.

“He talked to the other kids in his group, which he had not done before, he talked to the players, he joked around,” Alyson said. “Jake would hang back, but this year he was a part of it.

“If those two guys didn’t come to our house, it would have been a repeat performance of the past two years.”

(Photo courtesy of Alyson Herzig)

Alyson also said that each day after camp was over, Jake would seek out Elmer to tell him thank you, “which is really not his style.” Kids also get a tour of the locker room and players’ autographs on the final days of camp — two things Jake hadn’t been fond of in previous years — but he was all about it this time.

Elmer plans to keep in touch. Jake does, too.

“I asked my dad if we can have them over again,” Jake said.