My friends don't approve of the guy I like. What should I do?

Lately I’ve started liking this guy who I met because we both did track. He has always been extremely kind to me and we have some really great conversations. He actually told one of my most accepting friends that he liked me too, and I know he is going to ask me out soon. The problem is, many of my friends think he isn’t “dating material” because he is pretty scrawny, (although very attractive in the face), and not very intelligent. These things don’t bother me at all, but whenever I try to tell them I like him and hope to go on a date soon they start talking about him like he’s a joke. I know I will say yes to this guy if he asks me out no matter what my friends think but I still want my them to accept him so they don’t make me feel bad all the time. What should I do?