C.J. Stroud has fired back at his critics in the wake of his intelligence getting called into question ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft.
The event kicks off this Thursday, with Stroud expected to either go first or second overall, but some doubt has been cast in the buildup. The former Ohio State quarterback has been criticized after it was reported that he registered a low score on his S2 cognition test but remains defiant and appears to be very confident in his ability to make an impact in the pros.
Speaking to Scott Fowler of the Charlotte Observer on Wednesday, Stroud said he is a football player and not a test taker.
“I’m not a test taker, I play football,” he declared. “At the end of the day, I don’t have nothing to prove to nobody, so I’m not gonna sit “here and explain how I process football. The people who are making the picks know what I can do. That’s all that matters to me.”
The draft prospect also pointed out that anyone playing for Ohio State would have to be intelligent as he called out social media coaches and players while claiming he’s going to be one of the smartest QBs in the NFL once he gets there.
“There’s a whole bunch of people who know how to coach better, play quarterback better, know how to do everything on social media, but the man in the ring, that’s what’s tough, stepping in the ring with ten toes,” he added. “And I’m gonna stand on that…If I’m not the smartest quarterback in this draft, I know I’m one of the smartest quarterbacks in the NFL when I step in there tomorrow.”
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Stroud had an impressive spell as the starting quarterback for Ohio State, finishing as a finalist in the running for the Heisman Trophy on two occasions, having thrown for 8,123 yards and 85 touchdowns.
Whether or not the S2 cognition score has an impact on his draft stock remains to be seen. But there’s not very long to go now.
