2024 Otis Taylor Award Winner: Isaiah Mozee

The Otis Taylor Award recognizes the most outstanding wide receiver or tight end in the Kansas City metropolitan area. In addition to the trophy, which will reside at the recipient's high school for one year, the Simone-Fontana Foundation will donate $1,500 to the school's athletic department.

The 2024 Otis Taylor Award winner is Isaiah Mozee, senior wide receiver for Lee's Summit North.

Mozee ended the year with 53 catches, 824 yards & 13 touchdowns. He is an incredibly talented athlete and was noted by Sports Illustrated as the second highest-rated player overall for 2024. He has committed to attend Nebraska in the Fall and is noted as their #1 recruit of his class. 

Otis Taylor was one of his era's best and most exciting wide receivers. He played in three AFC-NFC Pro Bowls, following the 1970-72 seasons. After his career, he owned the Kansas City Chiefs' career records for receiving yards (7,306), receiving touchdowns (57), and 100-yard receiving games (20). Otis Taylor's 410 career receptions rank second in team history.

He may be best known for his dazzling 46-yard touchdown pass in Super Bowl IV, which helped the Chiefs upset the Minnesota Vikings. Inducted into the Kansas City Chiefs Ring of Honor in 1982, he wore number 89 as a Chiefs player. The school has retired his number 17 from his college days at Prairie View A&M.

The History of the Award

In 2007, at the suggestion of high school football referee Curtis Whiters, the Simone-Fontana Foundation contacted Otis Taylor family friend and Kansas City icon Ollie Gates about starting the Otis Taylor Award to recognize the most outstanding wide receiver/tight end in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Ollie took the idea to Otis Taylor and his family, who gave the award their blessing. 

The Finalists

Larry Porter, Senior Wide Reciever, Raytown

Karsten Fiene, Junior Wide Reciever, Lee's Summit

Quin Myers, Senior Wide Receiver, Blue Valley West