yep no doubt. As someone who has more than a passing professional interest with this issue I tense up every time I see him run. The problem is the current state of concussion research, diagnosis and treatment. Its very much an inexact science that though evolving and light years advanced from a generation ago there still remains much nuance and shades of grey.
And another "problem" is how tough the kid is. He got concussed no doubt no question about it on that cheap CMU hit, against USF one easily missed was the shot out of bounds when he got nailed not in the head but was violently thrown around out of bounds (which is all it takes for subsequent brain injury ala AJ) and had mini collapse, and then todays obvious shot with a second or two obviously lights out.
The kids so resiliant and strong that he pops back up and passes all the protocols testing to determine if he had a diagnosable concussion, key word diagnosable. He did not. But it almost doesn't matter because as mentioned the key word is "diagnosable", this based on current diagnostic criteria. These milder variants of brain trauma are hard to currently quantify and are subclinical if you will, but with the obvious degree of at least some brain trauma going on that he's sustaining he may run the risk of problems well down the road.
That said there's so many other variables and factors at play that he may not have any long term problems. On the other hand he might. There's going to be no way to know for sure with this nuanced and complicated issue. Can't blame the kid nor shafer nor who are just going by what the dr's tell them. They're competitive and understandably want to play.
If I was him (in fact I was him 30 years ago) I'd keep playing. If he was my kid, however, as a parent I'd want to shut him down this year as common sense suggests that something is going with at least some degree of trauma. And if I was his dr. I'd probably say and suggest the same. This ones so hard to know what's right to do and what's wrong this based on the current state of incomplete knowledge on the issue (it would be different and more obvious to know what to do if we are talking flat out obvious concussions).
heres a good read that attempts to address some of the nuances:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concussion
It comes down to personal choice and if he and his parents are willing to keep it going and the dr.'s aren't saying shut it down, then going forward I'm going to hold on to the seat of my pants, grimace and pray for the best for the kid just as your post suggests.
