Lineman Aziz Shittu enjoying final ride with Cardinal defense

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While the Stanford offense is producing fireworks on a weekly basis, the Cardinal defense leads the Pac-12 in fewest yards per game and is second in fewest points allowed.

That’s impressive for a unit that returned just two full-time starters, one of whom, outside linebacker Kevin Anderson, has missed the past four games with an injury.

Using a nickel defense almost exclusively against spread offenses, Stanford is getting as much mileage as possible out of three defensive linemen: Aziz Shittu, Brennan Scarlett and Solomon Thomas, with Nate Lohn as a sub.

That’s fine with Shittu. He says the linemen aren’t any more tired than any other defensive players and are greatly helped by the offense’s ability to hold the ball for long periods of time. Stanford leads the Pac-12 in time of possession.

“I might have played four plays in the first quarter against Washington,” Shittu said. “It hasn’t been too tiring.”

That could change Saturday night when the No. 8 Cardinal (6-1, 5-0 Pac-12) visit Washington State. The Cougars (5-2, 3-1), enjoying their best season in years, are pass-happy but nevertheless are fourth in the league in possession time. Led by quarterback Luke Falk, they are adept at moving the sticks with short passes but have the ability to throw deep, too.

Getting sacks against them won’t be easy, Shittu said. Stanford ranks 105th nationally in that department (11th in the Pac-12) at 1.43 per game. The Cardinal led the nation in sacks in 2012 and ’13 and were sixth last year.

“They’re going to throw the ball 40, maybe 50 times in the game,” Shittu said. “It’s going to be a test of wills all night. The first 20 rushes, you’re probably not going to get there, not going to get close. But it’s going to be that 21st or 22nd rush. You gotta keep on coming. That’ll be the time when you can get a hand on the quarterback.”

Stanford Cardinal defensive end Aziz Shittu (center) (7) pictured at football practice at the Dan Elliott Practice Field, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015, in Stanford, Calif. Stanford Cardinal defensive end Aziz Shittu (center) (7) pictured at football practice at the Dan Elliott Practice Field, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015, in Stanford, Calif. Photo: Santiago Mejia, The Chronicle Photo: Santiago Mejia, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close Lineman Aziz Shittu enjoying final ride with Cardinal defense 1 / 4 Back to Gallery

Shittu, a 6-foot-3, 275-pound senior, is making the most of his final collegiate season after sustaining a season-ending injury in practice in mid-October of last year. He’s seventh on the team in tackles with 24, tops among the linemen, and leads the team in tackles for loss with six. He also has broken up three passes with deflections.

He credits regular deflection drills for helping him on that score. “Once you see the quarterback take his left hand off the ball, he’ll either pump-fake or do something with it,” he said. “The ball’s going to come out. If you see that, get your hands up. … If you can’t get the sack, a deflection is the next best thing.”

Shittu’s full name is Abdulaziz Oluwatosin Shittu Jr. His parents emigrated from Nigeria to attend Cal State Stanislaus. His first language was Yoruba. At Buhach Colony High School in Atwater (Merced County), he was listed as the fourth-best recruit in the state by Rivals.com.

He doesn’t shy from showing his emotions on the field, especially when he catches an opponent in the backfield.

“He gets fired up,” head coach David Shaw said. “I’ve been telling him since his freshman year: ‘Just get in the backfield. Create some havoc. If you can’t sack the quarterback, make him move. Get him off his spot.’ He did that pretty well last week.”

Tom FitzGerald is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: tfitzgerald@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @tomgfitzgerald