CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Everyone who follows college football or Mississippi State in general, knows what Dak Prescott is capable of on the football field.

But it’s his contributions off the field that make him who he is. The senior quarterback has spent countless hours after practice signing autographs for young fans, or reading to elementary students in the Starkville area, or volunteering his time to help the less fortunate. It’s those things that make him who he is.

“I tried — to the best of my ability — to represent our football team in a first-class manner in everything I did,” Prescott said. “I have always taken pride in being active in our community my entire career. There is a special relationship with Starkville and our football team.”

On Tuesday, Prescott was recognized for his off-the-field actions. He was named the 2015 Senior CLASS Award® winner for the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, Premier Sports Management announced. This comes one day before his final game as a Bulldog. MSU (8-4) plays North Carolina State (7-5) at 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) today in the Belk Bowl in Bank of America Stadium.

The award is given to the most outstanding senior student-athlete in Division I football. Prescott becomes the second individual national award winner for MSU in the 116-year history of the program (Johnthan Banks, 2012 Jim Thorpe Award). He was voted the winner via a nationwide vote of Division I FBS football coaches, national football media and fans. The award looks at four areas: classroom, community, character and competition. Prescott has received two degrees: an undergraduate degree in educational psychology last year and a master’s degree in workforce leadership earlier this month.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.

“It just shows not the type of player he is, but the type student and person he is,” MSU coach Dan Mullen said at a press conference Tuesday. “Look at all the adversities he’s had to face throughout, not just his career but his whole life, and to be recognized at that level is very, very special.”

Prescott has seen some highs in his four-year career with 38 school records and numerous accolades. But he has faced some adversities. He lost his mother, Peggy, to cancer during the 2013 season. He also lost his grandfather. Both deaths were hard for Prescott to swallow as he was close with both. He was involved in an altercation at Panama City Beach this past spring break, but he has overcome it.

He credits his work off the field and the support system he has around him for the man he has become.

“I’ve had such a great support system from my teammates, the university and the fans that always support me and let me know that they are here for me,” Prescott said. “That always made it easier just to keep going with a smile on my face.”

Prescott becomes the 12th Southeastern Conference player to win the award.

He said he was humbled to receive the award and it is more than likely one of the best awards he has received in his young career.

Prescott’s talents as a football player will always be remembered by Bulldog fans and they will be remembered by fans of the National Football League team he plays for in the near future, but Prescott’s character and volunteer time in Starkville stand as a beacon for other Bulldog student-athletes to aspire to.

“Dak represents everything that is good about college athletics, and is incredibly deserving of this honor,” MSU Director of Athletics Scott Stricklin said in a school release. “Words can’t adequately describe what he means to Mississippi State and our athletic department.”

Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait

Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.