With the 2024 edition of the NFL Combine here, many fans are now searching on their web browsers, “What is S2 in football.” Well, look no further as we try to explain the infamous cognitive test used by NFL talent evaluators to figure out which college prospects have the potential to be future professional football stars.
Also Read: 2024 NFL Combine – 10 prospects with the most to prove
What is the S2 test for NFL teams?
The mystery S2 Cognition Test is used by many NFL teams to measure an athlete’s cognitive skills and instincts. The company that created the S2 has developed tests for different sports — so it isn’t only used by the NFL — and tracks a player’s ability to make split-second in-game decisions.
For example, in the case of quarterbacks it is created to see if they can make the correct instant choices and reads during a game that they will need to succeed in the league.
Also Read: 2024 NFL mock draft – Falcons trade up for QB, J.J. McCarthy lands in top-15
How is the S2 test given?
The S2 test is a digital evaluation that can take anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes to complete, depending on the player and the sport it is for.
What is a S2 score?
S2 test scores are similar to examinations in any school and go from 1 to 100 percent. For example, Carolina Panthers 2023 first-round pick Bryce Young scored an impressive 98 on his exam last year. Fellow elite QB prospect CJ Stroud reportedly scored a shockingly low 18 on his test in 2023. Below you can find some of the best and worst scores leaked from other QB prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Also Read: NFL Combine records – Best vertical jump, bench press, 3-cone drill and scouting combine history
Best S2 Cognition Test scores
- Bryce Young – 98
- Will Levis – 93
- Clayton Tune – 84
- Anthony Richardson – 78
Worst S2 Cognition test scores
- Hendon Hooker – 46
- CJ Stroud – 18
Also Read: 5 biggest NFL Combine fails of all time
When did the NFL start using S2?
The S2 test originally started to be used by teams around the league before the 2016 NFL Draft. While it is not used by all 32 franchises, its use has expanded, and nearly half of the teams in the NFL now use the now-infamous cognition test.
Also Read: 2024 NFL Draft QB rankings – Evaluating 10 best quarterbacks in 2024
Who made the S2 test?
Cognitive neuroscientists Brandon Ally and Scott Wylie came up with the idea of the S2 Cognition Test back in 2014 while listening to evaluators during that year’s draft. A year later they created the company S2 Cognition which now develops unique tests that evaluate certain skills and abilities that previous player exams could not.
Difference between the S2 Cognition Test and Wonderlic Test
For years, fans had heard about NFL teams using the vaunted Wonderlic Test. That traditional pre-draft exam was a 50-question quiz that had to be completed in 12 minutes or less and measured a football player’s IQ. It was similar to many other IQ tests that have been previously developed.
However, the S2 test is far more advanced, sport-specific, and looks to get a better understanding of a player’s ability to make quick decisions in difficult situations.
Also Read: 2024 NFL Combine top storylines and buzz