Scoring an 18/100 on any test suggests the test-taker wasn't prepared or qualified for the assessment.
But that's what Ohio State NFL Draft prospect CJ Stroud allegedly got on the S2 exam which replaced the maligned Wonderlic test in 2022. It is a 45-minute exercise which measures processing speed, reaction time and ability to digest information and respond under duress. Seems like an important gauge for aspiring NFL quarterbacks.
Except that one season into his NFL career with an organization undergoing a complete rebuild, Stroud ran away with the Rookie of the Year award and consistently demonstrated exactly what the S2 test suggested he would struggle to deliver.
Not a great look for the professors who created it. And not that readers of this web site require Stroud validation, but this is not the way a quarterback who struggles with "processing" breaks down film.
Now Athletes First, led by super agent David Mulugheta has begun advising its clients to decline the S2 test. While not explicitly citing how Stroud put its credibility in doubt, the connection is clear - Mulugheta is Stroud's agent.
His performance on the S2 leaked last season and became a story which damaged his Draft stock and reputation, possibly resulting in his selection by Houston at no.2 behind Carolina, which took Bryce Young first.
Houston is now set at quarterback for the next decade-plus, thanks in part to Mr. 18% on the S2 turning in the best rookie QB performance in a generation.
