Drawing Travis Hunter is a challenge. It's not because his face is particularly hard to map out or because his gear is overly complex, though the Colorado Buffaloes' metallic gold can be a literal pain to color. No, the real difficulty in figuring out how to draw Travis Hunter is capturing the energy of a guy who simply doesn't leave the field.
He’s a unicorn. Most football players have a specific "look" depending on their position—the bulk of a lineman or the lean, twitchy build of a corner. Hunter is both a lockdown cornerback and a deep-threat wide receiver. To draw him accurately, you have to understand that dual-threat physique. He isn't bulky. He’s wiry, explosive, and always looks like he’s about to spring into a backflip.
If you’re sitting down with a pencil and a blank sheet of paper, don’t just think about jersey numbers. Think about the movement.
Getting the Proportions Right for a Two-Way Star
Forget the standard "superhero" proportions you see in comic book tutorials. Travis Hunter stands about 6'1" and weighs roughly 185 pounds. When you're sketching his frame, you want to focus on long levers. His arms are exceptionally long, which is why he’s so good at swiping balls away from receivers or mossing defenders in the end zone.
Start with a basic gesture drawing. I usually start with a "line of action"—a swooping curve that represents the spine. Since Hunter is rarely standing still, make this line dynamic. Maybe he’s mid-air, body contorted to snag an interception.
The Helmet and Face
The Riddell Axiom or SpeedFlex is usually his go-to. Drawing helmets is basically drawing a sphere with a chunk taken out of the front. For Hunter, the visor is non-negotiable. He often wears a dark or "smoke" visor that reflects the stadium lights.
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- The Eyes: If you choose to draw him without the visor, focus on the intensity. Hunter has a very focused, calm expression even when the game is chaotic.
- The Hair: His dreadlocks are a signature. They shouldn't look like solid blocks. Draw them as individual, overlapping cylinders that have weight and movement. If he’s running, those locks should be flaring out behind him like a cape.
The Details That Make It Travis Hunter
If you just draw a generic football player in a number 12 jersey, it won't feel like him. It’s the small stuff. Hunter has a specific way of wearing his gear that fans recognize instantly.
One thing you'll notice if you look at photos from the 2024 or 2025 seasons is his use of turf tape. He often has that white athletic tape running down the back of his triceps. It’s a functional look, but it adds a nice textural contrast against his skin in a drawing.
Then there are the cleats. Travis is a Nike athlete. He often wears the LeBron 4 or various Vapor models modified for football. These aren't just shoes; they are aggressive-looking tools. Focus on the "cleat plates" and the way they dig into the turf.
Mastering the Colorado "Gold"
If you're working with colored pencils or digital paint, the Colorado Buffaloes' gold is tricky. It isn't yellow. It’s a metallic, Vegas gold.
To get this right, you need high contrast. Use a deep ochre for the shadows and a very bright, almost white-cream for the highlights where the sun hits the helmet. This creates that "chrome" effect. If you just use flat yellow, the whole drawing will look like a high school scrimmage rather than a Big 12 showdown.
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Action Sequences: The Key to How to Draw Travis Hunter
Honestly, drawing him standing on the sidelines is a waste of talent. To really learn how to draw Travis Hunter, you have to draw him in the "Heisman Pose" or full extension.
Think about the physics of a catch. When Hunter goes up for a ball, his body forms a "C" shape. One leg is usually tucked while the other is reaching for the ground. His fingers—draw them long and spread wide—should be clamping onto the nose of the football.
One detail people miss? The gloves. The palms usually have the "Swoosh" logo or the Colorado "CU" logo that forms when the hands are pressed together. Adding that tiny detail makes the piece feel authentic.
Avoiding the "Stiff" Look
A common mistake is making the shoulder pads too big. Modern college players, especially "skill position" guys like Hunter, wear incredibly small, low-profile pads. They want range of motion. If you draw him with giant 1990s-style shoulder pads, it's going to look like a different person.
Keep the shoulders narrow and the jersey tight. The "scrunch" of the jersey over the stomach—the "crop top" look—is also very common in his game-day kit. Use short, jagged lines to show where the fabric bunches up around the waist.
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Technical Breakdown: Pencil vs. Digital
If you’re using lead, go for a 2B for the initial sketch and a 6B for the deep shadows under the helmet and in the jersey folds. For digital artists, a dry ink brush is best for the dreadlocks to give them that organic texture.
- Sketch the Silhouette: Keep it lean.
- Define the Gear: Small pads, long sleeves (sometimes), and turf tape.
- The Number 12: Don't just draw a flat "12." Follow the curves of the chest and back. If his torso is twisting, that "1" and "2" should warp with the fabric.
- The Background: A blurred-out Folsom Field adds a lot of atmosphere. Use light greys and tans to simulate the crowd without drawing every single person.
The most important thing to remember is that Travis Hunter is a "vibe." He plays with a lot of joy. Sometimes, adding a slight smirk behind the face mask or a celebratory high-step can communicate more about who he is than a perfectly rendered shoelace ever could.
Practical Steps to Finish Your Artwork
Once you’ve got the anatomy and the gear down, focus on the lighting. Football games are played under harsh stadium lights or direct sunlight. This means your shadows should be sharp and dark, not soft and blended.
Clean up your edges with a kneaded eraser if you’re using paper. If you’re using Procreate or Photoshop, add a "Rim Light" layer. This is a thin line of bright light along the edge of the silhouette that separates the player from the background. It makes the athlete "pop" as if he's jumping off the page.
Double-check the logos. The Colorado "Swooping Buffalo" on the helmet needs to be slanted slightly forward to imply speed.
Now, grab your reference photos. Look at his recent games against UCF or Utah. Notice how he carries himself after a play. Use those observations to add the final "personality" strokes to your work. Start with the gesture, lock in the "wiry" proportions, and don't be afraid to get messy with the turf pellets flying up around his feet.