Michigan Monday: Is the S2 Costing CJ Stroud Millions?

The NFL used the Wonderlic test for 50 years to measure QB's intelligence in the NFL Draft process.  The Wonderlic tested general intelligence and many felt it was not a good tool for predicting success in the NFL.   A new test was developed out of Nashville called the S2 Test to determine how a player might succeed in the NFL (mostly QB's).   How does it work?

The S2 Cognition test evaluates athletes in four categories with subcategories in the first three and then provides an overall score in the form of a percentile where the athlete falls among his or her peers.  

The categories and subcategories the S2 Cognition test appraises are: 

• Visual processing
  • Perception speed
  • Trajectory estimation
• Rhythm/timing
  • Rhythm control
  • Timing control
• Motor control
  • Distraction control
  • Impulse control
  • Stopping control
• Instinctive learning

For example: “A series of diamonds flash on the screen for 16 milliseconds each. Every diamond is missing a point, and the test taker must determine — using left, right, up or down keys — which part is missing.”

A section is designed to test “how many objects an athlete can keep track of at the same time.”

“In another, there are 22 figures on the screen and the athlete must locate a specific one as quickly as possible. The object might be a red triangle embedded in other shapes that are also red.”

A score over 80 is considered good.  

The test has been pretty accurate so far and the guys that have scored low have struggled at the NFL level, but the guys that have scored high have done well. 

For example: Drew Brees, Patrick Mahomes, and Josh Allen all have scored at the top of test.  Joe Burrow scored 97% and even the last pick in last year's draft Brock Purdy was in the mid-90's.

So how did this year's draft eligible highly ranked QB's score on the test? (Results are confidential so these are not confirmed)

Bryce Young 98%

Will Levis 93%

DTR 91%

Anthony Richardson 79% 

Hendon Hooker 49% 

CJ Stroud 18%

Please note, the S2 organization which will not get into specifics are saying that 2 scores that have been listed on the internet are not correct.  The list above did not include all the QB's that took the test or were listed on the internet.  I only took the top QB's from the list, for example the Stanford QB scored a 99. 

After CJ Stroud carved up the Georgia defense in the CFP, it was a no brainer for him to jump into the NFL Draft.  He was considered a lock to go in the top 5 and probably #2 to Houston.  He is 6'3 218 pounds and has the frame and arm of an NFL QB.  Now we are hearing he could be dropping down draft boards. 

With Ohio State's QB's struggling in the NFL and a score of 18 on the S2, CJ could be falling fast.  It could also be the reason why we are seeing that Bryce Young seems to be a lock at #1.   I was a bit surprised that Carolina quickly tagged Bryce as the #1 draft pick and that Will Levis moved up to the 2nd QB taken on many mock draft boards.  Bryce has had a ton of success at Alabama but is under 6'0 tall, Will Levis is 6'3 and over 230 pounds but has struggled with accuracy at Kentucky.   I believe the NFL draft rooms are taking this S2 test seriously and moved both of them up.   

Starting on Thursday, we will see what teams think of the S2 and where CJ lands.  Then the real test will begin with the results coming on the field.