SANTA CLARA — Stanford receiver Ty Montgomery gave a more promising health outlook Wednesday than his coach did a week ago, saying he hopes to be 100 percent ready before the season opener Aug. 30 against UC Davis.

Montgomery, a senior All-American kickoff returner and the Cardinal’s primary receiver, said the timetable for recovery from right shoulder surgery in February is ahead of schedule.

He declined to detail the surgery other than to describe it as minor while speaking publicly about his condition for the first time.

“It wasn’t anything that will take away from my career,” Montgomery said.

Last week, coach David Shaw revealed that Montgomery might miss the season’s first two games, including a Sept. 6 showdown against USC.

Shaw said Wednesday during the Bay Area College Football Media Day at Levi’s Stadium that the receiver suffered the injury during last season. The coach and player declined to specify when the injury occurred.

Montgomery also suffered a knee injury in the Rose Bowl defeat to Michigan State, but said it isn’t a problem.

The player is weight lifting and running routes in preparation for his final year at Stanford. He plans to participate when fall camp opens Monday.

“I won’t say I will be sidelined,” the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Texan said. “I will be doing everything but somewhat limited.”

He tested the shoulder recently while deep sea fishing in the Florida Keys with his mom. Montgomery didn’t feel any pain when reeling in a six-foot long dolphin.

But the return to full contact and games will be determined by Stanford’s medical staff and not by a rod and reel.

Shaw said the player has been so diligent in his recovery program that he could return sooner than expected.

“We’re talking about a phenomenal athlete that is unbelievably determined to get back for game one,” the coach said. “There’s no babying football players. If Ty is ready to go, he’s returning kickoffs, he’s playing the game. If not, we’ll hold off.”

While sidelined, Montgomery discovered the book, “Mind Gym: An Athlete’s Guide to Inner Excellence.” The reading helped keep him grounded and focused on recovery as much as he wanted to play during spring drills. The book also preached patience, something Montgomery tried to adopt. But as fall camp gets closer, the receiver feels the pull.

“I thoroughly enjoy training camp,” Montgomery said. “I know it’s hard, but there’s nothing better than being able to play football all day, every day.”

Montgomery caught 61 passes for 958 yards and 10 touchdowns last year. He is expected to have another big season while teaming with returning quarterback Kevin Hogan.

Montgomery also is expected to be a force as a kickoff returner and will compete for punt return duties.

“You’re talking about a receiver but who is built like a running back,” Shaw said in comparing the player to former NFL stars Irving Fryar and Tim Brown.

Shaw said the comparison is “completely unfair but when I look at Ty, it is what I think of.”

Stanford has supplied the NFL with some of the best offensive linemen in the country since the Jim Harbaugh/Shaw era that began in 2007. Yet, Shaw calls the current crop the best in the eight years of his tenure at Stanford. Even with four new starters and big holes to fill. “But how fast will we gel?” he asked. “Will we gel week two for this huge test against USC? Or week six or week eight?” The line is led by junior tackle Andrus Peat, considered one of the country’s best. Shaw said junior tackle Kyle Murphy will be considered one of the best after the season while guards Josh Garnett, Johnny Caspers and Graham Shuler also are proving to be elite players.