He enrolled at Phillips Exeter Academy in 1887 and graduated in 1890. He attended Harvard University, where he became an All-American football player for the Harvard Crimson football team. Nicknamed "Ma" Newell, he played right tackle for the Harvard football team from 1890 to 1893. Newell stood 5 feet, 10 inches, weighed approximately 170 pounds, and played every minute of every game for Harvard from 1890 to 1893. During his four years on the team, Harvard had a record of 46–3 (including 38 shutouts) and outscored opponents 1,926 to 95. "The New York World" wrote the following about Newell in 1892: