It didn't take long for the injury to bug to strike Northwestern in fall camp.

Starting cornerback Keith Watkins II will miss the entire 2016 season after suffering a knee injury, head coach Pat Fitzgerald announced on Tuesday. The redshirt junior sustained a non-contact injury to his left knee last week during practice in Evanston and will undergo surgery on Aug. 25.

Watkins started two games at cornerback last season, including Northwestern’s Outback Bowl loss to Tennessee. He appeared in 12 games and was second among corners with 41 tackles last year.

An aggressive, physical corner, Watkins looked primed to step into the starting role of the graduated Nick VanHoose. He and Matthew Harris figured to form a strong starting tandem.

With Watkins now out, Fitzgerald said that Montre Hartage, Trae Williams and Alonzo Mayo will likely battle for the starting job. Hartage, who played in all 13 games as a true freshman last year, may have the inside track. Another player who could figure into the mix is true freshman Rod Campbell, who has impressed coaches early in camp.

Fitzgerald and Watkins talk about the injury below.