THE PLAINS, Ohio- Joe Burrow shirts are flying off the racks.

And teachers have his name on their backs. Joe Burrow has his hometown bleeding Purple and Gold.

“This is an Ohio State town or Ohio University, but now it’s LSU,” Athens High School PE Teacher Christy Ritterbeck said.

Burrow played his high school ball at Athens, and boy was he successful. He won the Ohio Gatorade Player of the year award twice, which vaulted him to earning a scholarship at Ohio State.

But his time at OSU did not play out as expected. He sat behind starter J.T. Barrett and was beat out by Dwanye Haskins two years ago.

Burrow decided it was time to move on. The LSU Tigers took him in.

“For him to find a home, and a home that embraced him as much as LSU has and Baton Rouge has, you know he deserves it more than anyone,” Burrow’s former teammate Kevin Moberg said.

Now Burrow is a bonafide star, who’s on the cusp of bringing home the most prestigious individual honor in college football.

“I don’t know that there’s a more coveted individual trophy than the Heisman Trophy,” Athens H.S. Assistant Principal John Rodgers said. “If he is so blessed to win that trophy, he would certainly be one of the most elite graduates of our institution.”

And perhaps the most famous person from Athens County. Assistant Principal John Rogers says despite all the fame and glory Burrow is receiving, he’s still the same guy they’ve known all this time.

“When you talk to Joe, he is still him, and he hasn’t lost his sense of pride in this community he still feels that this is his home.” Rogers said. “We take a lot of pride that he still feels connected to a place that we all take pride in.”

The community is showing that love right back to Burrow. Local businesses have well wishes on their signs. And at the local drive-thru, it’s all people can talk about.

“All the buzz, we love him,” Cindy, a loyal Burrow supporter, said.

“For him to go as far as he’s gone and to prove himself it’s just unbelievable,” Bill Jewell said.

At Zonez, a local school spirit superstore, they’ve been creating Joe Burrow memorabilia for the town.

But Zonez isn’t in it for money — they’re turning it right back around and funneling the proceeds back to the Bulldog Blitz — a booster for the Athens High School football program.

“They raised Joe, he was in that program from third grade all the way through,” Zonez Store Manager Dawn Wellspring said. “We figured that would be the best way to give back. When it’s all said and done, we will write a final check and give back to the Bulldog Blitz because that’s who we are and what we do.”

They also have a plan for a special shirt if Burrow does win the Heisman. But Wellspring says they’re just happy for Burrow and his family.

“We’re very excited, feeling very honored to be able to have a small tie in with all of this,” she said. “Super proud of him and his family and everything that’s come down the road for him, and things are yet to happen for him. So it’s exciting.”

The whole community - proud of their favorite son.

“We take a lot of pride in Joe because his character was evident when he was here, and his character was evident since then,” Rogers said. “He hasn’t changed as a person.”

“We’re proud of his work ethic and never-give-up attitude,” Ritterbeck said. “Because he could have very easily given up and he didn’t. He’s proved to the kids back here, that you can make it.”