Former Patriots star Aaron Hernandez is from Bristol and when he was recruited out of high school he had been planning to go to UConn and committed there, but after a visit to Florida that was partially hosted by quarterback Tim Tebow, the tight end changed his mind.

According to Radar Online, Hernandez previously was ready to go to UConn and later changed his mind after a recruiting visit to Florida that was hosted by Tebow as a freshman quarterback. The visit came after Hernandez's father had died and that is reportedly what sent him into a rough life, with drugs and the wrong crowd and that was something Tebow tried to help the tight end with. The report says that while Tebow and Hernandez didn't run in the same circles, the quarterback tried to help him.

Tebow have him advice and also studied the bible with him and helped with religious studies at coach Urban Meyer's house, but it didn't stick, as Hernandez had fighting and drug issues while at school. The report says that the two weren't close off the field, but played well together on it and the quarterback tried to encourage a good life for Hernandez. Reports have come out that Hernandez failed drug tests while at Florida and sources said that Tebow tried to help any way that he could.

While at school Hernandez was also questioned in a shooting and had problems with fighting, getting into an altercation with a bouncer and after his father died that was when things went downhill. His past coaches said that if he had the right people around him, Hernandez could be successful, but clearly that didn't happen with the Patriots.

Details about the killing and the case have come out in Hernandez's arraignment and bail hearing, including that Lloyd was shot five times execution style, including gunshots to the back and chest as well as the fact that the body was noticed after it was killed.  Lloyd was a semi-pro football player for the Boston Bandits and he also was a star athlete in high school, playing football, track and other sports. Lloyd's funeral was held on Saturday on Boston and so many people showed up to the church that the service had people waiting outside.

"But they weren't close at Florida," one person familiar with the program told Radar. "Tim obviously became the team's leader but he came from a different world than Aaron.

"They didn't hang out off the field. Sure, Tim tried to encourage him to live a good life, a religious life, just like he does with so many people.