Two New York natives are stepping into the spotlight for Syracuse Football.

Senior defensive lineman Kevin Jobity Jr. and senior wide receiver Justus Ross-Simmons grew up just 75 miles apart, and now they’re making their mark in the Dome.

Jobity Jr. had the lone sack against UConn while also having two tackles for loss. The Buffalo native played soccer until 2021 and says the COVID-19 pandemic was the reason he got into football. 

“They pushed football into the spring because it’s a close contact sport and COVID regulations didn’t allow that. So my high school coach comes to me after that fall season of soccer and he’s pushing me to come out and play ball, so I did,” Jobity Jr. said. 

He says his family has been able to come to every home game over his four years. 

“I take a lot of pride in that. I’m super happy to see them out there, whatever game it is,” Jobity Jr. said. 

He says the distance from his family was a reason he chose the Orange and chose to stay through the head coaching change from Dino Babers to Fran Brown. 

“It’s the perfect distance away from home where they’re always in my room hanging out all the time but I can go see them whenever I need to, so it’s awesome,” he said. 

Ross-Simmons is from Rochester but moved to California for his final year of high school. After two seasons at Colorado State, he returned to play just 90 minutes east of his hometown.

“It’s very exciting. Got a lot of people from the hometown come to the game and watch me play to be able to perform for them,” Ross-Simmons said. 

He had an important reason to come back to the Empire State.

“My dad had a heart attack and two strokes so it’s easier for me to go back and forth from Rochester to Syracuse,” he said. 

He says the distance from home makes him feel better knowing it’s only 85 miles.

“With me being able to go back and forth I’m able to ease my mind,” Ross-Simmons said. 

Jobity Jr. hopes their success inspires more New York athletes to get a shot at the college level.

“The more talent that coaches pick up in Buffalo, around Rochester, things like that, it’ll be a lot of pride taken in the school,” Jobity Jr. said.