Halterman attended Center Grove High School in Greenwood, Indiana, and was a letterman in football and track.

He started 35 of the 44 games in which he appeared during his four-year collegiate career at Indiana University from 2001 to 2004 under former Dolphins head coach Cam Cameron.

Halterman originally went to camp with Houston as an undrafted college free agent in 2005, and spent his entire rookie season on the Texans’ practice squad.

After brief stints on the practice squads of the Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers in 2006, Halterman finished the season as a member of the Indianapolis Colts practice squad, where he spent the final two regular season games and all four playoff contests.

After back injuries prematurely ended Halterman's playing career, he began to pursue a master's degree in counseling and educational psychology with a minor in sports from Indiana University-Bloomington.