Speaking from a guy's point of view.......
If he does confess, reject him gently..but don't leave any ambiguity. A clean ouright rejection will be the best for all concerned in the long run.
If he's not willing to be friends after that, then he was never really your friend to begin with, so you won't have to feel bad over it.

I've been in that guy's shoes before and I can tell you, I'd have preferred being rejected outright but staying friends. Unfortunately for me, it was the girl who avoided me like the plague after that.
