A control rod drive system includes a drive assembly and a cage assembly operably coupled to the drive assembly. The cage assembly includes a plurality of drive rods operably engaged with a drive platform, a plurality of guide rods extending through the drive platform, and a control platform releasably coupled to the drive platform via quick release assembly, the control platform configured to have a control rod mounted thereto. A method of control operation of a nuclear reactor includes receiving instructions to adjust operation of the nuclear reactor, moving a control rod relative to a core of the nuclear reactor via rotating one or more drive rods engaged with a drive platform, and releasing a control platform coupled to the control rod from the drive platform.