C.J. Stroud is considered one of the best quarterbacks in the 2023 draft class. However, as draft day approached, rumors started spiraling in the NFL world that Stroud would be in for a slide on April 27. The 6-foot-3 quarterback gave a blockbuster performance at the NFL Combine. He made a strong impression in front of the NFL coaches and scouts. However, with just days remaining until the 2023 NFL draft, many believe that Stroud may fall, and one of the reasons why that may happen is attributed to his S2 test score.
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The cognitive test measures the player’s processing, ability, split-second, decisions, anticipation, adaptability, and other cognitive skills. It was revealed that the Ohio quarterback scored the lowest marks on the S2 test. Is the claim true?
How much did C.J. Stroud score on the S2 test?
Bob McGinn of Go Long revealed leaked S2 scores for the 2023 quarterback class. According to McGinn, the young quarterback scored in the 18th percentile on the electronic test.
Reportedly, Bryce Young scored the highest score on the test. High grades on the S2 test were earned by Will Levis (93%), Jake Haener (96%), Jaren Hall (93%), Clayton Tune (84%), and Anthony Richardson (79%).
https://twitter.com/NFLRookieWatxh/status/1649440433079037954?s=20
Stroud’s S2 score and the fact that he attended Ohio State were referenced by one anonymous NFL executive as reasons why he thinks the former Buckeyes star will be a draft flop. “Stroud scored 18. 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.”
The NFL executive criticized Stroud as a bust even before he was drafted. However, Brandon Ally, the co-founder of the S2 cognitive test acknowledged on The Pat McAfee Show that a high score does not guarantee your quarterback will become a successful NFL starter, nor does a low score indicate they will be a flop.
Giving his take on the whole controversy, C.J, as per sports columnist Scott Fowler, recently claimed that he ain’t a test taker and wants to prove his merit on the football field. “I’m not a test-taker, I play football. At the end of the day, I don’t got nothing to prove to nobody, so I’m not going to sit here and explain how I process football.,” he stated.
NFL analysts & players defend Stroud over his low S2 score
Since the news spread like wildfire, fans noticed a major dip in stock for Stroud; however, former quarterback Robert Griffin III defended Stroud on ESPN’s ‘Get Up.’
“Am I losing my senses? When did CJ Stroud become a guy that was going to drop out of the top 2 or 3 into the top 10? This guy was arguably going to be the No. 1 pick in the draft just a couple of weeks ago. So whoever is putting out all these rumors and all these stories, you have to take it with a grain of salt because it is 100% lying season when you get this close to the draft.”
Along with Griffin, Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parson supported Stroud. He tweeted:
It’s no coincidence! They did the same thing with Justin fields! We see how that turned out lol! https://t.co/q1xZSTofMU
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) April 25, 2023
It will be interesting to see if a test will decide Stroud’s future or not. However, after looking at all the different takes on the issues and how Stroud himself responded on the controversy, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that the results might not have been inaccurate, but they surely don’t guarantee that C.J will not make a name for himself on the big stage.
