TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- One of the most decorated individuals in Alabama football history has received an award that probably tops all of his previous awards.

Senior center Barrett Jones has become the first Crimson Tide player to win the prestigious Campbell Trophy, known more casually as college football's academic Heisman Trophy.

The award, which goes annually to college football’s “best and brightest,” was presented Tuesday night at a National Football Foundation dinner in New York.

Earlier this fall, Jones had been named one of 15 finalists for the award. As members of the 2012

NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, those 15 players receive an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship.

With the Campbell Trophy, Jones’ scholarship was increased to $25,000.

At a press conference Thursday before the dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria, Jones first showed his gratitude and then his sense of humor.

“First and foremost, I'd like to thank the National Football Foundation and their sponsors,” he said. “This has truly been a first-class event, and being at Alabama, I am used to staying at nicer hotels than the Waldorf.”

But this was no laughing matter.

“Seriously, this event has been more than the first-class amenities and the Rockettes and the nice dinners,” Jones said. “Charles Barkley's famously said 'I'm not a role model.' I think the fact is, with all the exposure college athletes get today, we are role models. I think everyone sitting here are people that use that status in a positive way. I'm very grateful to be sitting on stage with 14 other worthy candidates."

A three-time Academic All-American, Jones carries a 4.0 grade point average. He's a four-year starter who on Jan. 7 will compete with his teammates for his third BCS National Championship.

Jones, named one of three 2012 permanent captains on Sunday, started his college career as a right guard for two years, then won the 2011 Outland Trophy as a left tackle. As a center this season, he could become only the second two-time Outland Trophy winner, and he is a finalist for the Rimington Award that goes to the nation’s best center.

The Campbell Trophy has been presented since 1990. Previous Alabama finalists were Greg McElroy (2010) and DeMeco Ryans (2005).

Three other Alabama players were named a NFF National Scholar-Athletes: Johnny Musso (1971), Randy Hall (1974) and Steadman Shealy (1979).

This year's finalists:

Matt Barkley, QB, USC

Rex Burkhead, RB, Nebraska

Cody Davis, S, Texas Tech

Nick Driskill, S, Mount Union (Ohio)

Nick Florence, QB, Baylor

Nabal Jefferson, DT, Northern Illinois

Barrett Jones, C, Alabama

Aaron Mullane, OL, West Texas A&M

Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse

Nolan Nearhoof, DE, Robert Morris

Ethan Peterson, OL, MIT

Sean Renfree, QB, Duke

Manti Te'o, LB, Notre Dame

Patrick Ward, OT, Northwestern

Shane Zackery, WR, Saint Xavier (Ill.)

Campbell Trophy winners:

1990: Chris Howard, Air Force

1991: Brad Culpepper, Florida

1992: Jim Hansen, Colorado

1993: Thomas Burns, Virginia

1994: Rob Zatechka, Nebraska

1995: Bobby Hoying, Ohio State

1996: Danny Wuerffel, Florida

1997: Peyton Manning, Tennessee

1998: Matt Stinchcomb, Georgia

1999: Chad Pennington, Marshall

2000: Kyle Vanden Bosch, Nebraska

2001: Joaquin Gonzalez, Miami

2002: Brandon Roberts, Washington University in St. Louis

2003: Craig Krenzel, Ohio State

2004: Michael Munoz, Tennessee

2005: Rudy Niswanger, LSU

2006: Brian Leonard, Rutgers

2007: Dallas Griffin, Texas

2008: Alex Mack, California

2009: Tim Tebow, Florida

2010: Sam Acho, Texas

2011: Andrew Rodriguez, Army

2012: Barrett Jones, Alabama