Early Years
Born in Elmira, New York, Waterfield grew up in southern California in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. He attended Van Nuys High School, in Van Nuys and went on to play college football for UCLA. He led the Bruins to the Pacific Coast Conference football championship in 1942 and a berth in the 1943 Rose Bowl against the University of Georgia. The game was scoreless into the fourth quarter until Waterfield's punt was blocked for a safety. Georgia added a touchdown to post a 9-0 win.
Waterfield entered the U.S. Army in 1943 and while in the service he was selected with the 42nd overall pick of the 1944 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Rams. He was discharged from the military due to a knee injury and returned college and played for UCLA in 1944.
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