These are reportedly the Wonderlic scores for the top running back prospects in this year’s draft.
It’s unclear if the infamous Wonderlic test actually correlates to NFL success, and yet it is still utilized as a tool to evaluate NFL prospects year after year. The scores of the players are never officially released, but they often leak in the lead-up to the draft, and these are the reported scores of the top running back prospects according to Bob McGinn of the Journal Sentinel:
- Leonard Fournette — 11
- Dalvin Cook — 11
- Joe Mixon — 12
- Christian McCaffrey — 21
The Wonderlic test is scored on a scale of 1 – 50, and is claimed to measure aptitude for learning and quick problem solving. It’s a 50-question test and test-takers have just 12 minutes to complete it.
Here are some sample questions:
- If a piece of rope cost 20 cents per 2 feet, how many feet can you buy for 30 dollars?
- A clock lost 2 minutes and 36 seconds in 78 days. How many seconds did it lose per day?
According to Paul Zimmerman’s book The New Thinking Man’s Guide to Pro Football, the average score for a running back is 16.
Here are some other Wonderlic scores from past running backs:
- Ezekiel Elliott — 32
- Eddie Lacy – 17
- Marshawn Lynch – 14
- Eddie George – 14
- Carlos Hyde – 9
- Frank Gore – 6
And for those curious, the only player known to have gotten a perfect score of 50 was punter and wide receiver Pat McInally, who was selected as a fifth-round pick in the 1975 NFL Draft.
