FORT COLLINS - There is some debate as to whether a safety leading a team in tackles is a good thing.

There is no disputing, though, that the Colorado State football team eagerly is awaiting the return to health of the guy who accomplished that feat.

That would be Klint Kubiak, who led the Rams with 90 tackles last season but has endured a rough offseason after undergoing hip surgery in May.

Kubiak can't point to the exact moment when the injury first surfaced, but he knows he played in pain during the final three games of 2006.

It began in the groin area and continued to manifest itself, but Kubiak believed some rest during the offseason would be the best remedy.

When things worsened instead of improving, he decided to undergo surgery. Now, he is trying to play catch-up and be ready when the Rams open against the University of Colorado on Sept. 1 at Invesco Field at Mile High.

"This is my 12th week out of surgery and I'm just trying to get better," Kubiak said. "The CU game is definitely my goal right now."

Kubiak, son of Houston Texans coach and former Broncos quarterback and offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, has been participating in the first halves of early-season practices before going to the trainer's room for treatment.

"I'm probably about 80 percent," Kubiak said. "I can run straight forward pretty well, but I'm working on my change of direction now and trying to get the flexibility back in my hips."

As a sophomore last season, Kubiak started all 12 games and recorded a career- best 19 tackles in a loss to Air Force.

Described by teammates and coaches as one who never shies from contact, Kubiak will have to do that for a little while longer.

"It'll probably be another week or two before I get into the contact stuff," Kubiak said. "The treatment is going well; I just have to be patient."

If Kubiak becomes discouraged in his quest to rehabilitate, he will have the luxury of having a family member to lean on this season. Younger brother Klay is a freshman quarterback who was sold on coming to CSU the minute he saw how good the fit was for Klint. Both played at Regis High School.

"He's done so well here, and ever since I was in high school, he told me how much he loved it and how great the coaches and the kids are," said Klay, who likely will redshirt this season. "This is perfect for me."

For the Rams, it'd be perfect to see a fully recuperated Klint Kubiak at his customary safety spot Sept. 1.

ETC.: Lifelong Broncos fans, the Kubiaks have switched allegiances now that their father is in Houston. "You kind of have to switch, but I still like the Broncos," Klay said. "But my heart's with my dad." Added Klint: "Unless they play each other, I'm still fans of both of them. But (Dec. 13, when the Broncos play at Houston), I'll be going for the Texans." . . . Gary Kubiak is expected to attend CSU's game Sept. 22 in Houston. "He watches every game on TV, and if he doesn't, he makes me send him the game film so he can tell me how crappy I did in that game," Klint said with a laugh.