Two Colquitt County seniors signed on Wednesday to continue their football careers at the next level. Quarterback Steven Krajewski, third from left, will head to the University of Connecticut and defensive back Kaleb Dawson, third from right, will go to Appalachian State. Packers coach Rush Propst, middle, back, attended the ceremony at the Board of Education’s meeting room at the old high school. With Krajewski are his parents George and Caroline Krajewski. With Dawson are, front, his mother Ishia Dawson and sister Kelsey Dawson and, back, grandmother Valerie Alderman, father Darius Dawson and grandmother Cynthia Dawson.

MOULTRIE — Colquitt County’s Kaleb Dawson and Steven Krajewski took advantage of the first day of the NCAA’s first early signing period to announce where they intend to play football next season.

And both will join Division I Football Bowl Subdivision programs.

Dawson, a two-year starter in the Packers secondary, honored a long commitment to play at Appalachian State in Boone, N.C.

The Mountaineers play in the Sun Belt Conference.

Krajewski, who threw for more than 2,300 yards and 24 touchdowns this season, signed with Connecticut.

The Huskies play in the American Athletic Conference.

Both were team captains and were instrumental in leading the Packers to an 11-4 record and a berth in last Friday’s Class 7A state championship game.

“They both had a lot to do with our run to the championship game,” 

Packers head coach Rush Propst said at a Wednesday signing ceremony at the Board of Education conference room at the old high school.

“The both come from great families and get great support at home.”

Propst said he was “awfully proud” of his two signees.

“They are getting full scholarships from respected universities,” he said. “They are on their way.

“In four years, they’ll have their education to fall back on.”

Propst said a handful of other Packers could sign on the traditional National Signing Day, which will be February 7.

Linebacker JJ Peterson is expected to sign with a Power 5 program that day. Propst said Cam Singletary, Tyler Howard, Kyante Rivers, Quen McNeal, Dante Moore, Jarvis Christopher and Noah Hightower also could sign.

Krajewski played his last two seasons at Colquitt County after starting his career at Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield, Mich.

He threw five touchdown passes last year while backing up senior Jay Saunders and took over the starting position this year.

Tall and strong and with good arm strength, Krajewski also showed an ability to rush the football successfully this season.

He threw for 325 yards and five touchdowns in the playoff opening victory over Pebblebrook and also had four touchdown passes against Bishop Sullivan and Lowndes.

His final pass for the Packers was a 14-yard touchdown strike to Josh Hadley that helped give Colquitt County a 17-16 lead with 49 seconds left in the state championship game against North Gwinnett.

“There’s a lot of pressure in playing quarterback at Colquitt County,” Propst said. “But he handled the high-pressure job very well.”

Propst said he expected Dawson, son of Colquitt County Hall of Fame member and outstanding Georgia Southern linebacker Darius Dawson, to play safety or nickle back for the Mountaineers.

He would have no problem sliding to a corner either.

“The thing that makes him so valuable is that he can play so many positions,” Propst said.

Dawson had one interception in each of the last two seasons for the Packers. He also appeared in three games as a member of Colquitt County’s 2015 state championship team.

He said one thing that made Appalachian State such an attractive choice was that he was told he would not be red-shirted next season and would have a chance to compete for a starting job.

“It’s beautiful up there,” he said. “They’ve got great fans. It’s electric.”