Yesterday, we got our first look at the Knights in a game situation during their first of two formal scrimmages (the second one will be next Wednesday). 

Here's a link to the story in today's paper. And while we're at it with the links, one to a feature yesterday on Kevin Brock, who has emerged as one of the top tight ends in the Big East after being a little-known walk-on for the first two years of his career. 

As for the scrimmage, today's story touches on the impressive showings turned in by several quarterbacks. Mike Teel was sharp for the two series he played, leading the first-team offense down the field in seven plays for a touchdown on its opening drive, and connecting with Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood like he did so many times last year. 

Jabu Lovelace and Chris Paul-Etienne, completing for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart, both got extensive looks and both performed fairly well. The spot is clearly Lovelace's to lose, but Paul-Etienne has improved significantly since last year and has a stronger arm than Lovelace or Teel. 

But speaking of arms, no one in camp has a more lethal gun than 6-6 true freshman D.C. Jefferson, who launched a 70-yard touchdown pass to Tim Brown and thew plenty of other passes that either hit their intended targets with some zip on them or whizzed past them. Jefferson is likely to be redshirted this season, but it's pretty exciting to think about the QB competitions he's likely to be involved in during each of the next two training camps.  He figures to contend with Lovelace and Paul-Etienne for the job next year. Pretty impressive for a redshirt freshman-to-be, but even if he wins the job in 09, he'll have to duke it out with Tom Savage -- who'll be a true frosh next year -- for the job in 2010. 

What will happen? Who knows. But the cool thing is this: Five of the Knights' six QBs will be back next year (Teel is the only one who won't be, assuming none of the others leave the team) and none of them are in any way entitled to the job. Whoever gets it is going to have to earn it, and likely keep proving he's the right guy for it during the season. 

A few other notes on the scrimmage that I couldn't fit in the paper: Mason Robinson, who started as the first-team tailback, is day-to-day with an injury that Greg Schiano said is just below his waste. Damaso Munoz left the scrimmage because Schiano said he "banged his head." ... Robinson, Kordell Young and Jourdan Brooks all got work with the first team. ... Zaire Kitchen and Joe Lefeged evenly split the plays at strong safety, but Ryan D'Imperio, at least for the time being, has moved ahead of Munoz at middle linebacker. "It's not over, but Ryan's taken the lead," Schiano said. "Ryan has played better, so the only reason we play 50-50 is if we feel it's 50-50; it's too close to call. It doesn't mean in week 2 or 2 1/2 that Damaso can't go back in front." 

A few observations: Joe Martinek was solid both as a ball-carrier and a receiver out of the backfield working with the second-team offense. ... Pat Brown --  a transfer from LaSalle -- was the most impressive of the new wideouts who got significant work. ... The offense was clearly ahead of the defense, but as Schiano noted, the defense made some big plays, they just weren't as consistent.

And some praise for Jefferson from Paul-Etienne: "DC is a special kid. When I first met him, he was so open to me. The first time I met DC I felt like I had known him for at least a month already. That's how he is. He has personality, he has character, and as you've seen, he has an arm."