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The retirement of Usama Young's No. 18 jersey at Largo High School on Saturday afternoon resembled Young perfectly: low-key and overwhelming positive.

Young, a 2003 Largo graduate and star athlete in football, baseball, track and basketball, is now a defensive back for the NFL's New Orleans Saints. He has emerged as a community role model and exhibits none of the elite swagger usually associated with successful athletes.

"It means a whole lot to me," Young said into a microphone during the halftime celebration. "I never imagined this would happen. I am thankful for everything."

After the ceremony, Young turned and embraced Largo Principal Angelique Simpson-Marcus, who was Young's health and sports medicine teacher during his high school days.

"When I became principal, he made a generous donation to the program," Simpson-Marcus said. "He exemplifies what a student-athlete should be. He's just a role model."

Young has taken an atypical road to the NFL. Lightly recruited out of high school despite second-team all-state honors his senior year, he mulled offers from schools like William & Mary and Connecticut. He eventually decided on Kent State, an Ohio school that once produced Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Lambert of the Pittsburgh Steelers, not a place known as an expressway to the NFL.

"They let me look at the depth charts. I could see there were defensive backs graduating, so I knew I'd have a chance to play early," Young said Saturday as he intently watched the Lions' game against Surrattsville and intermittently cheered for his alma mater.

Following his senior year at Kent State, Young's 39 solo tackles, two interceptions and three forced fumbles earned him a second team All Mid-American Conference selection, but no invite to the NFL Scouting Combine. But Young began generating some buzz when he ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at an NFL Pro Day at Kent State. New Orleans made him the 66th overall pick in the 2007 draft.

"[That] helped a whole lot. At the beginning of my senior season, I knew I had a chance to be picked," Young explained. "After Pro Day, I started to hear about getting picked up earlier. It happened to be in the third round. Coach [Sean] Payton and [General Manager] Mickey Loomis were on the phone. They said, ‘Hey, you're going to be a Saint.'"

Since entering the league, Young has had a constant struggle for playing time. The Saints' secondary is crowded, led by veterans Aaron Glenn and Mike McKenzie. Competing for playing time against such well-established cornerbacks has been a mixed blessing.

"It's frustrating, but a learning experience. I try to never be negative," Young said. "I get to learn a lot from a lot of [the veterans]. I just keep up the good work and make the most of the opportunity."

The Saints' most recent game was a 37-32 victory over the San Diego Chargers in London's Wembley Stadium. The game, already special for Young because it represented his first time overseas, was made even more memorable by his crucial fumble recovery in the second quarter. It was a big breakthrough in his burgeoning career, but he didn't act like it.

"I saw him make the fumble recovery in London," said Usama's father, Leroi Young. "I asked him, ‘Why didn't you celebrate?' He said, ‘Dad, I'm just doing my job.'

Young hopes to expand his job duties this summer. He has plans for a camp in Largo, and hopes to combine athletics and academics. His father says he knew Usama would be a success, whether in sports or life.

"In elementary school, in fourth grade, I would help my sons with their homework," Leroi Young said proudly. "One day, [Usama] said to me, ‘Dad, I appreciate it, but I don't need help with my homework anymore. If I get it wrong, I will learn it myself."

There was a lot to celebrate Saturday afternoon at Largo. The sun shone brightly, bathing the field in rare 70-degree November weather. The game recognized the Lions' seniors, who were escorted to midfield by their parents before the start of the game.

But, for at least one day, the Lions and their fans were celebrating something different when Young's retired jersey was unveiled.

"That's deep man," one man said softly to a neighboring fan.

"That gives you serious hope," the neighbor responded.