By Gia Vang

EUGENE, Ore. -- With a court appearance scheduled for Friday, University of Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli is facing the most serious charges among the players charged with a crime.

Local attorney Greg Veralrud said the quarterback faces the highest classification of crime. He says second-degree burglary is a Class C felony.

Now, star running back LaMichael James, kicker Rob Beard and defensive lineman Matt Simms all face assault charges. Also, linebacker Kiko Alonso is suspended for the 2010 season for a DUII.

So, now that Jeremiah Masoli faces the most serious charges, Veralrud said head coach Chip Kelly might wait to see how the legal process unfolds to help him make a decision.

"The advantage to Masoli with the burglary two is that it can be treated as a misdemeanor which could impact how coach Kelly is able to deal with these cases," said Greg Veralrud of Veralrud & Fowler Attorneys.

Veralrud said Masoli's second degree burglary charge is the highest level of crime in these cases.

Meanwhile, he said it's hard to say whether the DUII or the assault charges are more serious. He says on some levels they are the same, and on others there are different consequences.

In the players' cases, they are misdemeanors. Veralrud says if you're convicted in misdemeanor assault case, you can petition to get it off your record. State law allows that to happen after three years of good behavior. But for a DUII, it remains a permanent stain on your record.