Many athletes hope to appears in TV commercials after they have established their pro careers. In that respect, Trent Irwin is way ahead of the curve.

He was acting in TV spots from the time he was 8 until he was 14 in Southern California. His father, Craig, an actor who has appeared on numerous commercials, would drive Trent 90 minutes from their home in Orange County to Santa Monica for shoots. The younger Irwin appeared in spots for Velveeta, Subway, Microsoft, Nissan and other products. The only line he remembers: “Wow, that tastes great!”

He had to put his acting career on hold for football. One day he missed a practice because of a commercial shoot, and his coach held him out for a quarter in the next game. Just like that, acting was “not an option anymore,” Irwin said.

Statistically, it would appear that at Stanford he’s a supporting actor. This year, he has 34 catches for 363 yards. Teammate JJ Arcega-Whiteside leads the Pac-12 with nine touchdown receptions. Irwin is still looking for his first TD catch of the season. In fact, the 6-foot-2, 204-pounder has had just three in his four-year career.

It’s a far cry from his record-setting career at Hart-Santa Clarita (Los Angeles County), where he had 285 catches for 5,268 yards and 57 touchdowns.

Saturday’s game Who: No. 14 Washington State (6-1, 3-1 Pac 12) at No. 24 Stanford (5-2, 3-1) Where: Stanford Stadium When: 4 p.m. TV/Radio: P12Net/1050

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Yet many of his catches for Stanford have come on third downs and moved the chains.

“I ran track when I was young,” Irwin said. “I didn’t like it because it was real singular, just one person doing things. The thing I like about third down is my team needs me to keep the drive going.”

Head coach David Shaw points out, “He’s made big plays down the field, more so than he has in years past. He’s made game-changing plays.”

One such play came in the season opener against San Diego State. Leading 7-2, the Aztecs would have been in position to widen the gap when lineman Noble Hall intercepted a K.J. Costello pass late in the first half. Irwin then charged from behind, knocked the ball out of Hall’s grasp and recovered the fumble. Stanford scored three plays later, and led the rest of the way.

“I’m just playing for my boys,” Irwin said. “It doesn’t matter (how many people are watching). We’re just going out and having fun with your boys. Rather than playing for your camera time, you’re playing for your buddy next to you.”

He came into his final collegiate season wanting to be “the tone setter,” he said. “Set the tone: whether it be work ethic, emotion. I have been trying to maintain that.” It wasn’t easy to do that after losses to Notre Dame and Utah. “We got punched in the jaw a couple times,” he said.

No. 14 Washington State visits No. 24 Stanford on Saturday and no doubt will fill the air with passes. Irwin was asked if he ever envies the Cougars’ receivers for the numerous times they are targeted in head coach Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense. Irwin’s close friend, Gabe Marks (2012-16), holds WSU career records for receptions (316), yards (3,453) and touchdown receptions (37).

“I take myself as a route runner,” Irwin said. “That’s what I pride myself in. They do get a lot of targets, for sure, and a lot of stats. But they don’t run a lot of (different) routes, and their routes don’t apply to the NFL. The scouts know that. … Everyone’s goal in the end is the NFL. As a route runner, I fit in better here.”

Shaw said Irwin has been a perfect fit for the Cardinal. “He’s given us everything he’s got,” he said, “and he’s put things on film that will give him a chance to play at the next level.”

And if pro ball doesn’t work out, he’ll consider returning to acting in TV commercials. “I might,” he said. “We’ll see where that goes.”

Briefly: Bryce Love practiced Wednesday, but his status was still in doubt because of his balky ankle. Shaw said the key will be how he feels Friday. … Wide receiver Connor Wedington returned to practice this week after missing the past six games and is questionable for Saturday’s game.

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