2024 Bobby Bell Award Winner: Ashton Moore

This award recognizes the most outstanding defensive lineman/linebacker in the small classes (Missouri Classes 1-4 and Kansas Classes 1A-4A). 

The Winner of the 2024 Bobby Bell Award is Ashton Moore. 

The winner of the 2024 Bobby Bell Award is Ashton Moore. With 125 tackles, 8 for loss, 4 forced fumbles and 2 sacks, Moore also rushed for 1,000+ yards and had 18 offensive touchdowns. He had an amazing senior season and has committed to K-State to take his football career to the next level. 

Who is Bobby Bell?

Bobby Bell was the most highly honored college lineman of the 1962 season. His coach at the University of Minnesota described the two-time All-America choice and Outland Trophy winner as “the greatest lineman I have ever seen.”

It’s hard to believe the versatile 6-4, 228-pound Bell began his college career as a quarterback. The Kansas City Chiefs of the then-young American Football League were so convinced that Bobby would sign with the Minnesota Vikings of the rival National Football League that they didn’t even bother selecting him until the seventh round of the 1963 draft. The University of Minnesota star stunned the pro football world when he opted to sign with the Chiefs.

Bobby began his 12-year career with Kansas City as a defensive end. He excelled in coach Hank Stram’s “stack defense,” which allowed him to drop out of the 4-3 alignment and become a fourth linebacker. In 1965, Bobby was shifted to outside linebacker after winning all-league honors as a defensive end the previous season. His size and speed made him ideal for the position. As a linebacker, he was named All-AFL or All-NFL every year from 1965 through 1971.

During his career, the versatile Bobby intercepted 26 passes, returning six for touchdowns. He also scored on an onside kick and recovered two fumbles.

Built-in the shape of an inverted pyramid with massive shoulders tapering down to a 32-inch waist, Bobby presented a fearsome appearance on the field. He had the physique to withstand and deal with punishment. What made him stand out from the crowd was his superior approach to the game, his willingness to play anywhere, even when injured, and his great joy at just playing the game. Bobby was the first Kansas City Chiefs player to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The award is given to the football player who is most representative of excellence on the playing field. Along with the trophy, which resides at the high school of the recipient for a period of one year, the Simone-Fontana Foundation presents a donation of $1,500 to the athletic department of the recipient’s high school.

The Bobby Bell Award, established in 2000, is presented annually to the most outstanding defensive lineman or linebacker in the small class (Missouri Classes 1-4 and Kansas Classes 1A-4A) category. The award is named for former Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro and Pro Football Hall of Fame player Bobby Bell, who addressed the athletes at the recent ceremony.

The Finalists

The following finalists were also identified as being the top in the KC Metro for small-class schools:

Bo Smith, Senior Offensive Line/Defensive Line, Chillicothe 

Finn Cusick, Senior Defensive End, Bishop Miege

Theo Grace, Senior Linebacker, Kearney