He played college football as a guard for the Penn Quakers from 1893 to 1896, led the team to undefeated national championship seasons in 1894 and 1895, and was a three-time All-American.

During his time with the Quakers, they compiled a 34-game winning streak, including perfect seasons in 1894 (12–0) and 1895 (14–0) and back-to-back national championships.

[5] In the College Football Hall of Fame biography of Wharton, he was called "a blocking dynamo, often taking out entire sides of an enemy line in the style of an axe-swinging Paul Bunyan.

He also worked 12 years as Penn's director of field athletics and assistant professor of physical education.

In later years, Wharton served as the executive director of the Delaware Unemployment Compensation Commission.