Legendary high school football coach Rush Propst caught up with Kipp Adams on the SEC Recruiting Buzz podcast recently to discuss a wide range of topics.

As the former coach at Hoover (Ala.) and currently Colquitt County (Ga.), Propst knows the SEC well having coached or coached against many of the players recruited by programs such as Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and others.

With Propst, you’re guaranteed his unfiltered opinion without any sugarcoating or carefully vague language. For instance, Propst said that Jake Fromm would be his quarterback over Jacob Eason.

“I really like [Jake] Fromm,” he said. “Now, I think [Jacob] Eason is a good player. I have seen [Fromm] in action in the high school level. Kids react to him well. He’s a great leader. He’s got a lot there that I like. In my offense, Fromm would be my guy. If Eason can’t get it done, maybe Fromm can.”

Eason, a 5-star prospect ranked No. 5 overall in the class of 2016, enrolled early and took over the starting job in Week 2. As a freshman, Eason was 204-of-370 for 2,430 yards, 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions. This spring, Kirby Smart said that Fromm, a former 4-star prospect who enrolled early, was pushing Eason.

Propst thinks the Bulldogs will be better on defense in 2017.

“I think they’re better defensively,” he said. “I think they should be really good on defense. I think that should be their strong point. That old junkyard dog, play hard defense. Limit scoring opportunities. I think that they’re going to be pretty good on defense now.”

When it comes to UGA’s rival, Tennessee, Propst doesn’t see the Volunteers being able to compete on a talent level.

“I think they lost so much,” he said. “I think they’ve got some players. They’re going to have to really pull one out. I don’t think they’re as talented as Georgia; I don’t think they’re as talented as Auburn, and they’re definitely not as talented as Alabama. Tennessee — I just don’t know about them. The jury is still out. I think Butch [Jones] has to have a good year, and he knows that. They’ve worked them hard.”

Another SEC East team not quite ready to compete in the eyes of Propst is South Carolina.

“They have made some big strides,” he said. “Defensively, they’re still not there. They’re going to score some points with [Jake] Bentley.”

One time he does see as ready to potentially compete is Auburn.

“I think they’re going to be much better,” Propst said. “The main thing is the kids like the offense [under Chip Lindsey], and they practice with an uplifting mentality. [Jarrett] Stidham is the real deal. I really like him … I think they’re one receiver deficient on the edge. They need some depth at the receiver position. The key to Auburn is Clemson Week 2 – at LSU, at Arkansas and at Texas A&M is the most important three-game stretch.”

No SEC conversation is complete without talking about returning conference champion Alabama. Propst is high on the Crimson Tide in 2017.

“Tell me what they don’t have,” Propst said. “They have five running backs; they got receivers running out the yin yang; they got two quarterbacks. Have they replaced tight end O.J. Howard? Their linemen are better, and offensively, they have a chance to be really special.”

Propst predicts UA will be back in Atlanta this December playing for another SEC Championship.

“I have to go Alabama, but I think LSU and Auburn have closed the gap,” he said. “I’ve got a feeling Georgia is fixing to have a good year, if they can get offensive play.”