Can be found at the youth, high school, college, and professional levels. An individual who participates in sports. Characterized by dedication, focus, intelligence, and work ethic. Athletes usually are overshadowed in high school by Jocks; they are too busy to do much
grandstanding. Most pro players are athletes rather than jocks.
The athlete is intelligent, hard-working, and a decent human being. He has
fallback plans for the future in case he can't play pro. The jock is arrogant, stupid, lazy, and an asshole. He has no plans for the future beyond high school whatsoever.
Example:
Jocks are drinking and fucking cheerleaders while athletes are training, studying, or participating in
worthwhile extracurriculars.
Ryan Leaf was a jock.
Steve Young was an athlete. Both were standouts through college, but look at the difference in their NFL careers.