The Clearwater Tornadoes (6-1, 3-0) have enjoyed one of their fastest starts in program history, and there are many reasons why–both on and off the field related. On the field, Clearwater’s success has been well-documented in terms of the talent. We’ve talked about their quarterback, their wide receivers, their running back, their defensive backs–you get the point.

One of those factors involved that must be be acknowledged is the 6-foot-4, 250-pound DL/LB/FB/TE-all-around athlete Kane Taylor. The class of 2017 transfer from Dunedin has assimilated quickly to the culture that Head Coach Don Mesick and his staff have set at Clearwater–and all parties involved are reaping the benefits.

Taylor, through the first seven games this season has equaled his number of tackles from 2014, while adding yardage on the ground and through the air on offense for the Tornadoes. Taylor has even added punting to his repertoire in hopes that college coaches will stop by and take a look-see–sooner, rather than later. He’s also working to dispel the rumors swirling around his departure from Dunedin and prove to the doubters that they can keep-on doubting if that makes them feel better about themselves.

We caught up with Mesick in advance of the Tornadoes historic rivalry game with Largo and asked him about Taylor, along with his thoughts on the game itself and what it means to the program–past, present and future.

BCP: Coach, much was made around Kane’s move from Dunedin to Clearwater, but it seems things are moving upward and in a hurry for this young man. How’s his transition been since he’s arrived?
Don Mesick: “His transition has been very good–I heard the “rumors” about the way he was at Dunedin in terms of his work ethic and whatnot, but he’s working his butt of in the classroom. While Kane hasn’t come full circle the way guys like A.D. (Adarius Lemons) and Quez (Jaquez Byrd) have turning themselves into straight-A students, he’s working his butt off to get there when it comes to that. On the field–the kid is real lightning rod. The kids really like him and they enjoy being around him. He’s a funny kid. He’s a pretty good worker–not a great worker yet–but he never misses practice, he’s always there and does what you ask him to do. He’s really just a cool kid–just a pleasure to be around, honestly.”

BCP: We’ve seen his potential on the defensive side, but what’s got you guys so excited about his ability to play on the offensive side of the ball?
Don Mesick: “He such as big, fast and really strong kid when it comes to the fullback position, we feel like A.D. runs a little bit better with a fullback in front of him, but A.D. is so explosive–that we didn’t have a fullback in front of him because there was no one that could get to the blocks fast enough to be effective–and that’s not the case with Kane–he is so explosive out of his stance and his first step is such a great first step. Once he hits the pile, the whole pile moves, and if you leave him one-on-one he’s going to just run them over. That’s a big thing for us, because A.D. trusts Kane that he’s going to get the block and that he’s not going to be running up Kane’s block.”

BCP: Simply put–what’s been his biggest stride this season thus far?
Don Mesick: “He’s always been a great player–the biggest stride he’s made this season is he’s believing that you can’t take plays off. He’s really starting to understand that if he wants to be apart of this defense and he wants to make an impact, that he’s gotta to play hard on every play. When he decides he’s going to make a play, he’s going to make play. That’s all there is to it.”

BCP: The old-schoolers know that before all of these “modern” rivalries in-county, it was about Largo vs. Clearwater.
Don Mesick: “This game has always meant something to Pinellas County as a whole. Before there were the East Lake’s, the Countryside’s, the Lakewood’s and the Gibbs’–there was Largo versus Clearwater. It’s a huge game regardless of what’s actually at stake this season with us going for a chance to win the district with wins the next two weeks and them fighting for their playoff lives.”