GAIL BURTON, FR4095 AP
Once upon a time Florida’s Aaron Hernandez and BYU’s Dennis Pitta were locked in a tight race for the John Mackey Award, an honor given annually to the best college tight end in the nation.
In 2009, Hernandez was given that honor over Pitta after both were among the three finalists.
On Wednesday, Hernandez, a convicted murderer, was found dead in his prison cell near Boston, the victim of an apparent suicide. That same day, Pitta was enjoying the offseason after his best year in the NFL.