In general, jocks (especially football players) get a pretty bad rap. People describe them as being self-centered and shallow. Some people even go as far as to say that they are plastic, as if it's impossible for someone who isn't ugly on the outside to not be ugly on the inside as well. Of course, I have no doubt that there are some self-centered, shallow, and plastic people who fall into this group. Doesn't every group of people have a couple of those?

But, don't be fooled by all the negative talk! Among athletes you will be able to find some of the best friends you could ever hope for. It takes a specific type of person to excel in each athletic role, which makes it difficult to make a universal list of why athletes make great friends. Here we will look into the reasons why running backs specifically are good friendship material:

1. He isn't obsessed with being in the spotlight.

What? A jock not obsessed with the spotlight? It's true, football gives you the opportunity to be recognized, but the right kind of people realize that recognition isn't the best end goal to have. The running back is only considered the seventh most important position on the team, even though he works closely with the quarterback, has a good understanding of all the plays, gets hit practically every play and is relied upon heavily for scoring (come on the quarterback only has about three options –– to hand the ball off to the running back, run it himself, or pass it). But, for all this hard-work the running back doesn't get near as much recognition as he deserves. So, what's in it for him? He gets to know the feeling of scoring a touch down and thus gets to show the team the end results of everyone's prospective efforts.

Why is it good to have a friend not obsessed with fame? It keeps you humble. No matter how big your career aspirations are or how much success you already have, you are reminded that the end recognition isn't what is the most important. Guys like this know how to dream big and but also are motivated to pursue it for the right reason.

2. He isn't afraid of confrontation.

Running backs are those players who makes physical contact on virtually every down. They understand how to act in the manner necessary to reach the desired end goal. Having someone around who isn't afraid of direct confrontation saves you from a lot of nonsense: when they notice a problem, they'll let you know about it. This enables you to start working towards a solution sooner. Also, these kinds of people know how to fight for what they want, leading us into our next point.

3. When he has a goal in mind, he pursues it relentlessly.

He's an "every minute player" who has to go 150 pence t the whole game. With no time off and no opportunities to just go through the motions, he understands the extra work needed to reach the desired end goal. Having a friend who is really driven in areas they are passionate about is motivating. These kinds of friends are just good to hang around. Also, when these people notice areas of your life where your currently putting in the extra effort, they will be the first to take notice. Instead of passing judgement on your late nights and early mornings, they are the best sources of support (but they'll also make sure they keep a good eye on you to make sure you don't go too crazy).

4. He understands how to make decisions that are best for the group as a whole.

He has to make decisions based off of what would produce the best ending results for the team as a whole. Having this perspective in his personal life means that he is the exact opposite of self centered. When approaching a situation where he sees a group of people need to work towards a common goal, he understands how to get them all there –– sitting down with individuals as needed to see what's holding up progress. Of course he will keep is wants and needs in mind too, but he is able to view them and how they relate to the common goal.

5. He likes to be informed before making a decision.

As a running back, he's used to keeping a lot of information in his head during a game. He has to keep in mind what down it is, the time on the clock, the play, variations to the play, every pass route, and every hole number in the playbook just to name a few things. That's a lot of stuff to have to consider before making a decision in a game. But, he knows how to not only recall all this information but analyze it in a timely manner to achieve the desired end results.

We all need a friend who focuses on understanding a situation before jumping to a decision. Impulse decisions can be fun in the moment, but nobody likes to be surprised by unintended consequences. At times, this trait can be annoying as there can be a tendency to overthink simple things. But, in general, (even if it seems annoying at the time) having someone who wants to gather intel before making a move is a good thing.

6. He's flexible and knows how to change the plan as needed.

Even after keeping in mind all the information as described in the last point, the running back understands that sometimes plans have to be adjusted. He has to analyze the positioning of the other team's defense and adjust his plans accordingly. This understanding that in order to best meet challenges you have to modify the plan as things come up is a golden trait in a friend. Not only can it help remind you to behave similarly but it also means the person can adapt quickly in new situations. This makes him the first person you'd want with you when going into a situation where you are uncertain. He'd be the first to let you know what you already know and how you can adapt it in a new place to still be useful to you.

7. He does the best he can with what he has when he has it.

This trait relates to his flexibility and adaptability. He understands how to not get overwhelmed in a situation by focusing on the tools he currently has at his disposal and the best way to utilize these tools. This makes him a good person to come to when you have a problem because he will help you look at the situation through a narrower scope and help you see the actions you can take to work yourself out of the situation.

8. His mind is constantly running through all the possibilities for each situation.

This is another side effect of his on the field job. When faced with new factors and situations to adapt to, it is impossible to have all the facts before making a decision. But, by running through the various outcomes and thinking of how likely an outcome is to happen, he is able to feel like is closer to making a completely informed decision. This makes him the perfect friend to help you think things through while also reminding you that there is a limitation to the information you can gather before you just have to make a decision.

9. He knows how to give a good pep talk.

This might just be a side effect of being a football player in general. After listening to enough pep talks and motivational speeches, he couldn't help but pick some of it up. He has a good understanding of what to say to get you up and moving when all you feel like doing is give up.

10. He has good people skills.

There is just something about the team dynamic that does wonders for social skills. Similar to people who come from a large household, they understand how to function as unit while also maintaining individual and unique relationships. Having a friend with people skills has endless benefits.

11. It's a lot easier to pay attention to a football game if you recognize someone on the field.

What's a better way to spend an evening than watching a live football game? Knowing someone on the field just makes it all the more interesting.