Ball State running back Braedon Sloan enters the 2025 NFL Draft with an intriguing resume. A strong pass-catcher out of the backfield, Sloan recorded back-to-back seasons at Eastern Kentucky with 40-plus catches and 400-plus receiving yards. He's also rushed for 600 or more rushing yards in three consecutive campaigns.
Sloan recently spoke exclusively with The Draft Network. Sloan discussed his decision to enter the transfer portal and go from Eastern Kentucky to Ball State, his versatility as a pass-catcher, running a 4.52 40 at Pro Day, and more.
JM: Now that you've had time to reflect, how do you look back on the decision to transfer from Eastern Kentucky to Ball State?
Braedon Sloan: It was a big decision to make. I was going through the Spring with that decision on my mind. I spent a lot of time in discussion with my family. It was a big decision that would dictate the rest of my career.
I feel like I made the right decision coming out of the portal. Ball State welcomed me with open arms. It felt like family. Everybody was very accepting of me from the very beginning. We put in a lot of great work together.
JM: You recently had your Pro Day. You ran a solid 4.52-second 40 and also hit 20 reps on the bench press. Were you satisfied with the performance?
Braedon Sloan: I was for sure satisfied. I had spent more than two months training at X3 down in Nashville. We were putting in some great work down there. They put me in a great position heading into Pro Day. I put up some good numbers. Some aspects could have gone better, but I was overall satisfied.
I went out and showed the scouts that I was capable of putting up better testing numbers than they projected for me. I was putting in hard work. I wasn’t messing around with my pre-draft training process.
JM: Did you meet with any teams in attendance?
Braedon Sloan: I briefly met with scouts from the New England Patriots. The Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns oversaw my workout. I spoke to them right after the workout. They were happy with my workout. I met with two scouts from the Indianapolis Colts as well.
JM: That’s a solid turnout. How would you describe your traits and abilities as a running back? Are you agile in space, or a power back in a phone booth? What is your identity as a running back?
Braedon Sloan: I’d like to think I can do both. I think I bring a lot of versatility to the table at the running back position. I can make somebody miss in the open field when I have to. I can also put my head down and run with power behind my shoulder pads.
I can also protect in the passing game, and catch the ball coming out of the backfield. I try to be as versatile as possible so that I can be used in as many ways as possible.
JM: I want to talk about your ability to produce in the passing game as well. Let’s expand on that. You had back-to-back seasons with 40+ catches and essentially 500 receiving yards at Eastern Kentucky. It's so important in today's game.
Braedon Sloan: My time at Eastern Kentucky, even going back to high school, the quickest way for me to get on the field as a freshman was by catching the football. I spoke to my coach and actually switched to wide receiver.
I eventually moved back to running back. Spending that time learning the receiver position, running routes and catching the ball, it just made me so comfortable doing that out of the backfield. It was big for my development.
Coach Richmond at Eastern Kentucky did a fantastic job utilizing me in the passing game. He called me a running back who can do everything. I really pride myself on being versatile. Ball State just didn’t involve the backs as much in the passing game.
JM: You’ve got one helluva resume as a pass catcher. We've appreciated your time today. Why should a team use one of their draft picks on Braedon Sloan?
Braedon Sloan: I’m going to be an incredibly hard worker. I’m a very versatile guy. I’m a great teammate in the locker room. I’m going to support my teammates. From a versatility standpoint, I can do a lot of things on offense and special teams. I want to contribute right away.
