Life is tough for a rookie in the NFL.

For Onterio McCalebb, his first few days in the Cincinnati Bengals' rookie minicamp might have been a little bit tougher.

The former Auburn running back is learning a new position, practicing at cornerback for the Bengals, who signed the fastest player at the NFL Combine to a deal as an undrafted free agent in April. McCalebb, whose speed wowed scouts in February and March, is adjusting to the new role and all of its intricacies -- backpedaling is his main issue.

But McCalebb is receiving some unexpected guidance from someone just like him, a former Bengals great who not only went through a similar position change out of college, but lives just down the road from McCalebb's high school, according to a story published on Bengals.com.

Ken Riley, drafted out of Florida A&M in 1969, switched from quarterback to corner during his first camp in Cincinnati. Like McCalebb, he had never played the position. The move paid off for Riley, whose 14-year playing career ended with 65 interceptions, the fifth-most in NFL history.

"It's a small world, you never know somebody right down the street from you was an all-pro at cornerback, played quarterback and switched to a defensive player," McCalebb told Bengals.com. "I never knew that. When they were telling me about it, I was like, 'That's pretty awesome.'"

McCalebb played in high school at Fort Meade, Fla., which is 11 miles down the road from Riley's hometown of Bartow. Riley says he watched McCalebb play in high school.

The two talked over the phone for 30 to 45 minutes last week, McCalebb said. McCalebb hopes to travel to Florida after the minicamp to learn more from the 65-year-old former NFL star.

"You're not going to make the transition if you still think you're an offensive player," Riley told Bengals.com. "You may get the chance later down the line in camp, but if you're still thinking about being a running back or receiver, you're going to have problems. Right now, you have to get your mind right and focus on defense."

For more, read the full report at Bengals.com.