Western Pa. star chooses Alabama

Monaca (Pa.) Central Valley wide receiver Robert Foster chose defending national champion Alabama over Pitt on Friday, giving the Crimson Tide a verbal commitment.

Foster, who caught 45 passes for 756 yards and eight touchdowns this season at the Class AAA school, is the 20th recruit on Alabama's verbal commitment list and only the second wide receiver, joining Raheem Falkins of New Orleans. Foster and Falkins are ranked as four-star prospects by Rivals.com.

Along with Pitt and Alabama, Foster had scholarship offers from Florida, Illinois, Louisiana State, Tennessee, West Virginia, Rutgers, Penn State, Southern California, Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan, and Notre Dame.

Central Florida 38, Ball State 17 - Blake Bortles threw for three touchdowns and ran for a fourth to lead Central Florida to a rout of Ball State in the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl on Friday night in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Bortles threw first-half TD passes of 7 and 5 yards to Latavius Murray, who also scored on a 2-yard run to help the Knights (10-4) win their final game as a member of Conference USA.

Ball State (9-4) was hoping to finish with at least 10 wins for the third time in school history, however its high-powered offense sputtered while being held to a season-low point total.

Brigham Young 23, San Diego State 6 - The Poinsettia Bowl was ponderous, even boring, until Brigham Young linebacker Kyle Van Noy took over.

Van Noy scored on a fumble recovery in the end zone and then on an interception return to lead Brigham Young past San Diego State in San Diego.