After some late buzz of a No. 1 overall selection, former Alabama defensive lineman Quinnen Williams still secured top-3 status.

The New York Jets took Williams with the third pick in the NFL draft Thursday evening in Nashville. Harry Gilmer in 1948 remains Alabama’s only No. 1 overall draft pick when Washington took the quarterback.

After months, weeks and a final few hours of rumors, the Cardinals ultimately opted for Heisman winner Kyler Murray with the top pick. Nick Bosa went No. 2 to San Francisco before the Jets scooped Williams.

The buzz of a Williams top pick gained momentum Thursday afternoon. Both ESPN and NFL Network reported Williams was told he was still on the Cardinals’ radar just hours before Roger Goodell announced Murray’s name in a Nashville downpour.

The move to New York will come with at least one friendly face waiting. Former Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley signed with the Jets this offseason.

“I know I have C.J. Mosley there, a person who I always looked up to, a person I always asked for advice and fed off of and look up to and grew up watching,” Williams said. It’s amazing.”

A year ago, this draft position would have never seemed plausible. A redshirt freshman in 2017, Williams played a reserve role at defensive end before sliding to the tackle position. A break-out 2018 included unanimous All-American honors and the Outland Trophy.

The fast success didn’t surprise Williams.

“I always thought that since I first came in and I redshirted that I was going to be a dominant player when I get on the field," he said. "This time last year, no fans, no media, nobody knew who I was because I didn’t play. Now that the world sees that I was a dominant player, I have to keep going. I have to be consistent in everything I do.”

Williams also became the first top-10 draft pick since Amari Cooper and the ninth of then Nick Saban era.

The Jets have now drafted four from Alabama since Saban arrived. Dee Milliner was also a top-10 pick at No. 9 in 2013 while ArDarius Stewart (2017) and Greg McElroy (2011) were late-round selections.

This post will be updated.

Michael Casagrande is an Alabama beat writer for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.