He worked incredibly hard to earn a five-star rating in high school and became a superstar quarterback through three years at the University of Alabama.
Tua Tagovailoa is one of the top prospects in this year’s NFL Draft class and he was one of nine signal callers who received a grade from the Wonderlic Test. The 50-question exam is a timed test that dives into three parts of cognitive ability: math, vocabulary and reasoning.
Draft prospects take the test at the NFL Combine and they have 12 minutes to complete it.
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While the average score for quarterbacks is a 24-26, Tagovailoa made a 13 – the lowest of his position for the class.
News was provided from Bob McGinn, who covers the NFL Draft and Green Bay Packers for The Athletic. The trio of Joe Burrow (34), Jordan Love (25) and Justin Herbert (25) all made higher scores, as the three are projected first-rounders for next week.
Jalen Hurts, a former quarterback for Alabama and Oklahoma, recorded an 18.
Wonderlic scores for QBs, per @BobMcGinn.
• Jake Fromm: 35
• Joe Burrow: 34
• Jordan Love: 27
• Justin Herbert: 25
• Anthony Gordon: 25
• Jacob Eason: 23
• James Morgan: 23
• Jalen Hurts: 18
• Tua Tagovailoa: 13— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) April 17, 2020
Much like his former teammate, Jerry Jeudy (scored a nine), the Wonderlic is not the end of the world for Tagovailoa.
The native Hawaiian can take solace in Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterbacks Jim Kelly and Dan Marino. Both scored a 15 on the test, but had great careers – including Kelly, who guided the Buffalo Bills to four straight Super Bowl appearances.
Donovan McNabb recorded a 14, but was a six-time Pro Bowler for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Lamar Jackson made a 13 and was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player last season.
For Tagovailoa, the primary thing for him is to remain healthy and prove he can have a Hall of Fame career at the next level.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
