Alabama's Jones wins college football's highest academeic honor

• NFF President & CEO Hatchell calls Jones 'clear choice'
• Jones has 4.0 GPA and could become four-time Academic All- American
• Jones has been named First Team All-SEC twice and Third Team All-America once

Alabama can now boast its first-ever Campbell Trophy winner, as center Barrett Jones took home the award Tuesday night.

Jones is the 23rd winner of the award, which is the premier academic award in college football, going to someone who gets it done on the field but also is one of the nation's best scholars.

To win the award is extremely difficult and many great student athletes have won it in the past, but National Football Foundation President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell places Jones among the best.

"Barrett is perhaps one of the greatest scholar-athletes to have ever played the game, and we are so proud to honor him tonight," Hatchell said. "The 2012 NFF National Scholar-Athlete class is one of the best ever, and for Barrett to stand above them all really says a lot about his accomplishments. He has a perfect 4.0 GPA and an All-American football career while still significantly giving back to the community - he was the clear choice as the best scholar-athlete in college football."

Jones' academic resume is impressive to say the least. He is a University Honors student who will likely be named an Academic All-American for the fourth time this year. No other Crimson Tide football player has even received that distinction three times.

On the football field, he has demonstrated versatility, spending time at guard, tackle and center during his collegiate career. He has been named First Team All-SEC twice, Third Team All-America once, and he has contributed significantly to both of his national championship runs.