Could Reportedly Poor Test Score Be Behind Stroud's Potential Fall

For decades, the Wonderlic was the baseline for standardized testing in the NFL, but a new S2 Eval test has replaced it.

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

NASHVILLE - Most football fans nationwide have heard of the Wonderlic Test. Its website describes it as "an assessment used to measure the cognitive ability and problem-solving aptitude of prospective employees for a range of occupations."

The NFL had used this test for incoming players for decades until recently when a new standardized test called S2 became the new tool for the league to use to measure those traits in players. 

The S2 Eval website writes that its tests "is a state-of-the-art system derived from cognitive science literature, decades of research, and precision measurement devices that track responses down to the millisecond."

According to a report by Bob McGinn, who has written draft information for 39 years, presented for GoLongTD.com, the test is broken down and scored in four sections, visual learning, instinctive learning, impulse control, and improvisation. 

Over the last week, reports that Alabama quarterback Bryce Young aced this test with a 98 percent. More recently, the test score of Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud has been reported. His score was reportedly 18 percent.   

According to S2, the 30-to-45 minute exercise is conducted on what The Athletic’s Matt Barrows in February described as a “specially designed gaming laptop and response pad that can record reactions in two milliseconds.” It measures how players process and make split-second decisions. “Anticipating, reading, reacting and adapting to the game are measurable skills,” the website offers.

Per the report, multiple sources around the league shared those scores for the two quarterbacks. 

Some other total scores in the class of quarterbacks this year were 96% for Fresno State’s Jake Haener, 93% for Kentucky’s Will Levis and Brigham Young’s Jaren Hall, 84% for Houston’s Clayton Tune, 79% for Florida’s Anthony Richardson and 46% for Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker.

Furthermore, the article quotes one executive as saying Stroud's score raised a red flag about the quarterback. 

“Stroud scored 18,” an executive said. “That is like red alert, red alert, you can’t take a guy like that. That is why I have Stroud as a bust. That in conjunction with the fact, name one Ohio State quarterback that’s ever done it in the league.”

As for the other top quarterbacks in this draft class, McGinn shared this. 

Some other total scores in the class of quarterbacks this year were 96% for Fresno State’s Jake Haener, 93% for Kentucky’s Will Levis and Brigham Young’s Jaren Hall, 84% for Houston’s Clayton Tune, 79% for Florida’s Anthony Richardson and 46% for Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker.

While it is merely speculation at this moment as to a potential slide coming to Stroud, this could be the reason for the recent rumors that the Houston Texans are willing to trade out of the No.2 pick for any team wanting to make a deal. 

Granted, these types of tests are very helpful, but so too are the things you see when you watch Stroud work on the football field. Also, far be it from me to make excuses, but some people struggle with test taking, or perhaps he wasn't feeling well the day of the test. We don't know the reason for such a low score, but I'm willing to bet there will be a team that puts more stock into the film and in-person interviews as opposed to a test score.  

As for the Titans, we will have to wait a few more days to find out if the rumors of a potential trade-up are real, or if they will select Stroud should he tumble to No.11 next Thursday night. 

Stroud threw for 85 touchdowns in two years at Ohio State, so he'll be an interesting Fanduel Fantasy option this season. He's likely to go No. 2 to the Houston Texans, who have the second-longest odds to win the Super Bowl this season according to the Fanduel gambling website.

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