If you’re just checking in, Keith Watkins II will miss all of the 2016 season with a non-contact knee injury suffered last week in practice. In no uncertain terms, this is bad for Northwestern. Not only does the team lose one of its two top corners and one of its most talented players, but it gets just a bit more shallow at a position already hit hard by graduation and players switching positions.
Watkins was set to enter the season the heir apparent to the top cornerback slot vacated by the graduated Nick VanHoose, and there was reason to be optimistic.