Northwestern projected starting cornerback Keith Watkins II will miss the entire 2016 season with a knee injury, the team announced Tuesday morning.
Watkins suffered the injury in practice last week.
Watkins, a junior, had played very well as a replacement to both Matthew Harris and Nick VanHoose at various times last year, including replacing VanHoose in the bowl game. Watkins was expected to join Harris as part of a very good cornerback tandem this year.
With Watkins out, Northwestern is scrambling for replacements, though Pat Fitzgerald has spoken highly of Montre Hartage and Alonzo Mayo this offseason.