No he does not. he is a sophomore and is the one that the staff has invested in. he is the guy for the next few years and he simply needs to get used to things. He was and is a fine athlete and has skills. But consider his position --- he is new, the defense is complicated, he is inexperienced in terms of knowing where he should be and he is in the middle of a shell-shocked defense that has been really, really, really toasted. the confidence and the shock of all that and the pressure to succeed (trying too hard) is a load for a 19 year old kid. he needs to simply play through it and, as he does, we should root him on o at every turn.
Put yourself into his cleats --- 80,000 fans screaming, you are 19 (or 20, whatever) and the blackshirt tradition is at stake --- your team is getting smoked and you just have to make that play.....
It is not an easy time for the NU kids --- especially those on defense, and especially those on defense who are new.
but they chose to play here....if they cant take the pressure then go play dII ball somewhere....as far as benching him, i would give thenarse a chance next week to see what he can do