Chicago Sun-Times High School Football Player of the Year: Geneva's Talyn Taylor

The speed was there right from the start. Even as a young Pop Warner football player, Talyn Taylor could fly.

“His coach always said he ran like his hair was on fire,” said Venus Taylor, Talyn’s mom. “He was so fast, but it was almost like he didn’t know how to control it.”

The Geneva senior eventually learned how to harness his speed and developed into one of the best high school wide receivers in state history, shattering school records and wowing college coaches all over the country.

“He’s the total package,” Vikings coach Boone Thorgesen said. “That isn’t me saying that. It’s what coaches from Ohio State, Notre Dame, Alabama and Georgia were teling me. Talyn reminds them of NFL receivers because he can play outside and inside and he’s so tough to guard.”

Taylor, the 2024 Sun-Times Player of the Year, led the Vikings to a second-place finish in the Class 6A state playoffs. He had eight catches for 116 yards and a touchdown in the loss to East St. Louis in the title game.

The Georgia recruit matched up against another SEC-bound player, East St. Louis cornerback Charles Bass.

“Bass is a tremendous player, a great player,” Thorgesen said. “Talyn made him look like any other kid. He’s a special talent.”

It was a magical season for the Vikings, beating rival Batavia and advancing to the state title game. But it almost didn’t happen.

“[Talyn] had the opportunity to go to IMG [Academy in Florida] twice,” Venus Taylor said. “It was really important to him to stay. He wanted to be a part of doing something special at Geneva with his friends.

“This season meant so much to everybody. Those guys went and did work when no one was looking so many times. That chemistry and that friendship carried over on the field. That’s why they had such a magical season. Not only were they well-coached and had good athletes, but they had bonds and friendships and things they wanted to accomplish together.”

Taylor finished the season with 84 receptions for 1,617 yards and 24 touchdowns. He averaged 19 yards per catch, returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and totaled 2,208 all-purpose yards.

Naturally quiet and humble, he admitted that aside from his speed, his route running sets him apart.

“I can be fast and smooth at the same time,” Taylor said. “And I’m a big student of the game. I like coaching and criticism.”

Geneva had routes in the playbook that only Taylor could run. Even as a sophomore, he was a standout receiver, but this year he was at a different level.

“He got attention from defenses as a sophomore,” Thorgesen said. “Junior year, he was double-teamed and started getting pressed off the line. Senior year, he got the same treatment, but he had elevated his game to the point that it didn’t matter. Nothing bothered him.”

Geneva wasn’t ranked in the preseason, largely because of questions about first-year starting quarterback Tony Chahino, who wound up being a strength.

“We’ve been best friends since middle school,” Taylor said. “It was his time to step up. He’s been working years for this, and he proved who he is this season.”

Chahino threw for 3,600 yards and 49 touchdowns and is now getting college interest. Taylor’s decision to stay has had an incalculable impact on his teammates and his town.

“He made all of us better,” Thorgesen said. “It means everything that he stayed. Everyone that has ever had anything to do with Geneva felt so much pride at making the state title game. All the kids in the community look up to him.”

It’s common for parents to look at high school teams as an avenue for personal goals, a scholarship or a stepping stone to the pros. At their best, high school sports bring communities together. That magic happened this season in Geneva.

“This was not just for Talyn," Venus Taylor said. "It was for everybody.”

The complete list of Sun-Times Football Players of the Year

1951 - Bob McKeiver, Evanston

1952 - Frank Pinn, Mount Carmel

1953 - John Carroll, Fenwick

1954 - Jack Delveaux, Fenger

1955 - John Swain, Vocational

1956 - Ed Ryan, Leo

1957 - Mike Lind, Calumet

1958 - Jack Strobel, Fenwick

1959 - Dick Butkus, Vocational

1960 - Al MacFarlane, Taft

1961 - Jim Grabowski, Taft

1962 - Jim DiLullo, Fenwick

1963 - John Byrne, St. Rita

1964 - Chico Kurzawski, Weber

1965 - LaMarr Thomas, Thornton

1966 - Randy Marks, Loyola

1967 - Tom Spotts, Maine South

1968 - Carlos Matthews, Evanston

1969 - Barry Cernoch, Downers Grove

1970 - Ken Ferguson, Lane Tech

1971 - Bill Marek, St. Rita

1972 - Jeff Stewart, Elk Grove

1973 - Kevin King, St. Laurence

1974 - Frank Shellenback, Barrington

1975 - Mark Carlson, Deerfield

1976 - Rich Weiss, New Trier

1977 - Chris Boskey, St. Francis de Sales

1978 - Marty Finan, Fenwick

1979 - Tim Marshall, Weber

1980 - Mike Tomczak, Thornton F. North

1981 - Tony Furjanic, Mount Carmel

1982 - Eric Kumerow, Oak Park-R. Forest

1983 - Dempsey Norman, Tilden

1984 - Chuck McCree, Romeoville

1985 - John Foley, St. Rita

1986 - Kent Graham, Wheaton North

1987 - Jeff Lesniewicz, Homewood-Flossmoor

1988 - Brian Dunlavy, St. Viator

1989 - Alex Rodriguez, Lane

1990 - Corey Rogers, Leo

1991 - Mike Alstott, Joliet Catholic

1992 - Broc Kreitz, Waubonsie Valley

1993 - Greg Williams, Bolingbrook

1994 - Jason Loerzel, Maine South

1995 - Tim Lavery, Naperville Central

1996 - Mark Floersch, New Trier

1997 - Rocky Harvey, Dunbar

1998 - Philip Macklin, Proviso East

1999 - Ryan Clifford, Naperville Central

2000 - Brett Basanez, St. Viator

2001 - Tim Brasic, Riverside-Brookfield

2002 - Tom Zbikowski, Buffalo Grove

2003 - Sean Price, Maine South

2004 - Chris Jeske, Joliet Catholic

2005 - John Dergo, Morris

2006 - Dan Dierking, Wheaton Warrenville South

2007 - Jordan Tassio, Naperville North

2008 - Charlie Goro, Maine South

2009 - Matt Perez, Maine South

2010 - Reilly O’Toole, Wheaton Warrenville South

2011 - Ty Isaac, Joliet Catholic

2012 - Laquon Treadwell, Crete-Monee

2013 - Justin Jackson, Glenbard North

2014 - Dewayne Collins, Phillips

2015 - Julian Love, Nazareth

2016 - Jake Marwede, Loyola

2017 - Samson Evans, Prairie Ridge

2018 - Payton Thorne, Naperville Central

2019 - AJ Henning, Lincoln-Way East

2020 - Vaughn Pemberton, Loyola

2021 - Jack Lausch, Brother Rice

2022 - Tyler Vasey, Prairie Ridge

2023 - Darrion Dupree, Mount Carmel

2024 - Talyn Taylor, Geneva